Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has called for the intentional development of Nigeria’s military-industrial complex, emphasising the urgent need for the country to manufacture its own weapons, including an indigenous version of the AK-47.
Osinbajo, who was the guest lecturer at the National Defence College Course 33 public lecture today in Abuja, noted that President Bola Tinubu had recently announced plans to establish a military-industrial complex, stressing that this must be approached with a clear mission and urgency.
Speaking on the broader implications of security and national stability, Osinbajo stated, “Empirical evidence strongly suggests that there is a definite correlation between poverty, low human capital development indices, and high instability and insecurity in a country. Indeed, today, the new paradigm for measuring security is human security. Human security goes beyond the absence of war and conflict; it includes the availability of the means to live, means to food, shelter, and clothing.”
He further emphasised the role of education and healthcare in national security, saying, “Because state and local governments are responsible for basic education and basic healthcare, the federal government must work with them to deliver a practical plan to deploy relevant basic and secondary education. We must be aware that we may not be able to achieve the scale, quality, and speed of the educational ambitions we must have to meaningfully engage the future using brick and mortar alone. Technology will be key.”
On food security, the former vice president noted its direct link to national stability. “Food security is at the heart of the security of a nation. The food shortages caused by supply chain disruptions in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine have demonstrated to us that you cannot leave feeding of the populace to the whims of geopolitics. We can grow our own food. This must be approached as a strategic imperative,” he said.
Osinbajo noted that with internal crises and insurgencies, the Nigerian Army has struggled to keep its personnel well-trained and well-equipped. He pointed out that the cost of arms and ammunition has increased exponentially, while the politics surrounding arms procurement have often delayed the delivery of weapons, even after advance payments have been made.
“The cost of arms and ammunition has gone up exponentially, and the politics of arms procurement have often hampered prompt delivery of even arms and ammunition for which we have paid in advance. It is becoming harder daily to have a well-equipped military. There is a need for the intentional development of a military-industrial complex,” he said.
He emphasised that Nigeria must move swiftly to develop its defence industry through collaboration between the private sector and the government.
“This is a collaboration between private industry and the public sector in the production of the arms and ammunition that the country requires for its internal and external defence.
“The government’s role is crucial. First, the government must initially fund research and development and enable access to concessional capital. The government is the major consumer of weapons, so the government must intentionally decide to procure weapons locally and issue long-term supply contracts to local manufacturers of military hardware,” he explained.
He referenced the existing legal and policy framework that supports local arms production, including the National Defence Policy of 2017 and two key Acts—one establishing the Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB) and another amending the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
“DICON has had a chequered history, but it has remained resilient. Although its manufacturing infrastructure needs to be revamped, it has some capacity to produce. It has set for itself, in the defence policy, a baseline of producing 50,000 bullet vests and ballistic helmets per year. It has also set a baseline for the production of 150 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPs), Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), medium tanks, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs),” he said.
He insisted that Nigeria’s ambitions for local arms production must be far greater. “Our ambitions for local manufacture of arms and ammunition must be much bigger than these projections—first in the range and volume of ordnance that we should produce, including guns, cannons, missile launchers, and other armaments; the volume and range of ammunition—bullets, shells, rockets, and bombs; explosives—grenades, landmines, and other explosive devices; and military equipment.
“We should produce all our small arms locally. There is no reason why we should not have our own version of an assault rifle like the AK-47. This is possibly the most widely used weapon by our troops and police. Already, we have seen many skilful fabrications of similar assault rifles. This capacity would come from fully engaging private sector players and private capital. Government budgeting for arms production simply cannot provide the needs of an army adequate for a country of Nigeria’s size and military importance.”
Osinbajo observed that several private Nigerian companies are already engaged in arms and equipment manufacturing, with some even exporting their products. “Already, there are several private arms manufacturers and equipment manufacturers producing MRAPs and APCs, some even exporting. These include Proforce, Imperium, Epail, and Innoson.
“Proforce, for example, has diversified into satellite technology and aerospace. Through collaborations with notable defence manufacturers, the company has been able to offer advanced technologies like UAVs and satellite solutions. These partnerships often involve joint ventures, product localisation, and, in some cases, intellectual property transfers,” he said.
He urged the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Defence, and the Office of the National Security Adviser to adopt an all-government approach in facilitating these joint ventures and technology transfer processes. Beyond military hardware production, Osinbajo stressed that Nigeria must also take a leadership role in restoring confidence in democratic governance across West Africa.
“Nigeria must lead in restoring hope in democracy in West Africa. Our democratic values, our institutions, and our ability to defend our sovereignty must be backed by a strong, self-sufficient military industry,” he concluded.
