The Federal Authorities has allotted a complete sum of N7,940,323,192 to the Defence Industries Company of Nigeria within the 2025 Appropriation Invoice, to revamp the nation’s arms manufacturing capabilities.
Established in 1963 to fabricate weapons domestically, DICON’s efficiency has been repeatedly questioned as Nigeria continues to rely closely on international international locations for arms and ammunition.
Successive administrations have promised to revitalise the company, committing important funds to spice up home manufacturing of weapons.
Nonetheless, the truth on the bottom tells a unique story.
Between January and July 2024, the Federal Authorities spent a minimum of N63.6bn on procuring navy gear and ammunition for the Nigerian navy and the Workplace of the Nationwide Safety Adviser.
Equally, a sum of N115bn was spent on arms and ammunition imports within the first quarter of 2023.
An in depth breakdown of the 2025 Appropriation Invoice earlier than the Nationwide Meeting reveals that personnel is to gulp N2,958,154,534, overhead bills N774,174,124, and capital initiatives N4,207,994,534.
The capital allocation consists of funding for a number of new initiatives aimed toward modernising DICON’s amenities.
Among the many initiatives are, “Restore and Substitute of Out of date/Dilapidated Electrical Tools and Infrastructure at DICON Ordnance Manufacturing facility, N148 million; Rehabilitation of DICON Explosive Manufacturing facility Buildings in Jebba, N150 million; Procurement of Uncooked Supplies for Weapons and Ammunition Manufacturing: N295.8 million; Procurement of Instruments and Tooling for Weapons and Ammunition Strains: N292.65 million and Electrification of DICON Explosive Manufacturing facility in Jebba: N180 million.
Different initiatives embody the availability of different energy provide for DICON headquarters at N498,500,000; rehabilitation of entry roads inside the DICON industrial advanced at N257,966,250; and the improve of safety amenities at DICON manufacturing facility complexes and headquarters at N281,896,000.
Moreover, a sum of N155,321,929 was projected for the renovation and rehabilitation of the weapons assemblies workshop, N161,159,806 for the institution of an effluent plant on the DICON ordnance manufacturing facility, and N114,299,108 for the development of a blast-proof explosive analysis laboratory on the DICON analysis and growth heart.