President Jonathan(c)admires locally-produced rifles at the NADCEL 2012 event yesterday
VANGUARD
July 2, 2012
President Goodluck Jonathan Monday
in Kaduna commissioned a ballistics
vest factory complex for the production and sale of military hardware, including personal protection armour such bullet proof vests and night vision goggle
equipment, noting that henceforth,
Nigeria would stop the importation of
military goods that can be produced by
the Defence Industries Corporation of
Nigeria.
Towards this end, he said, the federal
government is set to send a bill to the National Assembly to amend the DICON Act to give the official Nigerian
government arms manufacturer,a global
outlook and allow it to export its
products abroad.
Dressed in an army uniform with the
highest rank of Field Marshal, President Jonathan who was accompanied by the Minister of State for Defence who also dressed in Army camouflage and the Service Chiefs,disclosed that the federal government would also give preferential treatment to any local or foreign firm ready to partner and site defence industries anywhere in Nigeria.
The ballistics vest factory, situated in
Kakuri, Kaduna State, is a result of a
joint venture agreement between the
Defence Industries Corporation of
Nigeria (DICON) and an Israeli firm –Maron Nigeria Limited. It is operating under the Public Private Partnership
(PPP). The joint venture company –
DICON-MARON – is also to diversify
into the tactical textile field, offering
designing and developing services for
tactical textile solutions.
DICON on its part, with Major General
Labaran as DG, has perfected the
production of rifles, pistols, sub-
machine guns and General Purpose
Machine Guns (GPMG). It has also the
prototypes of the RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) Launcher and the 81mm mortar lined up for production.
DICON was established in 1964 for the
production of arms and ammunition
for Nigerian military and the nation’s
security agencies. The Act of Parliament establishing it also mandated it to use its excess capacity to support the development of local industries.
But after several years of existence, it has not met the expectations of the founders. Jonathan stated that with the take off of the new factory, along with new innovations in the Navy and Air Force, there was every reason for the nation to be proud that the military has
keyed into the transformation agenda of Nigeria.
His words, “With this commissioning,you must convinced me beyond all reasonable doubt that DICON cannot
produce any product before such
product is imported. This commissioning marks the beginning of a vibrant defence industry.”
He advised businessmen and other
investors not to limit the sitting their
industries only in Kaduna, noting, “You
can feel free to site your industries anywhere in Nigeria. You just have to
let us know you are sitting it as it has to do with the security sector. We will
encourage people to produce our
needs locally.” He emphasized his Administration’s commitment “to creating the requisite enabling environment for local manufacturing industries to grow.
Hmmm…it is good that Mr President is even reaching out to private defence equipment manufacturers to come and establish industries all over Nigeria.
Before this can be successful, the FG must put in place the necessary legislation and infrastructure for Nigeria to gain maximally.
The Isrealis seems to be our real friends.
Men…is that a Ngerian made AK47 or what? The weapon looks menancing!!!
I remember stating last month that nigeria has a new variant of their obj 006…this is it in the pic
U know the specs Tim?
Sorry the only part of this Story is the wearing of a Field Marshalls uniform. Seems like somebody is really feeling insecure
ie that caught my eye
troublemaker!!
Dem no dey carry money buy warrior title
DUE TO THE CONSTITUTION AS commander in chief he has the right to wear the highest TITLE a practice started by SHAGARI.BY THE WAY HE DOES LOOK smart in it.
OGA EYIMOLA
We can’t have it both ways we have the in born right to criticize but when something good happens with the same INTENSITY we use to criticize it mathematically has to be the same intensity we use to PRAISE.As A CIVIL ENGINEER a Bridge always has two entrances.
The procurement of the made in Nigeria 1) BALLISTIC VEST ,2) Night VISION GOGGLES,3) RPGs4) 81MM MORTARS will go along way to improve the lot of the average Nigerian soldier put in HARM’S way
I have been a strident critic of G.E.J. and the F.G at large however if the vision of G.E.J. is to revive the DICON and the ensuing result so far is
1) Nigeria’s first warship (navy)
2) Nigeria’s first drone( amebo) AIRFORCE
3) Nigeria’s first APC (army )
These are SIGNIFICANT momentous achievements and for that I say well done to all my fellow Nigeriansthis is a day of days LETS REJOICE ABOUT SOMETHING GOOD AND LET US ALSO REMEMBER Nigerians WHEREVER THEY ARE IF THEY ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY CAN SUCCEED.
I’m not disputing the enormity of the achievements, or indeed the fact that the C-in-C has the right to wear any service uniform he desires. Its just not done anymore. Shagari was president between 1979 and 1983 . That was 30 years ago. Anyway all that is off topic
This is very good news! But I would have preferred the AK didn’t have the wooden butt.