By Linus Aleke
The Federal Government (FG), on Friday moved to use locally manufactured armaments to tackle insurgency.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, said the ministry is working to reposition the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to deliver on their mandate in line with the foresight of the forefathers.
Dr. Kana, said this in Abuja, during the Commissioning of 700 Ashok Ley Land Troops Carrying Vehicles by President Buhari at Nigerian Navy Holding Limited, Asokoro Abuja.
He said: “with the advent of various phases of insurgency recorded by our country, it is imperative for us to think inward and provide local preventive and protective mechanisms to fortify our critical assets, formations, borders, and all various camps across the country, with the sole mandate to ensure that insurgency is contained to its barest minimum. Of enormous importance is also to move the Men around for timely intervention.
“The engagement of an indigenous company, Messrs Stallion Motors Limited by the Ministry of Defence, was hinged on the Minister’s conviction to uphold President Muhammadu Buhari’s desire to promote the utilization of the indigenous technology as enshrined in the Executive Order 5 signed by the President on 2nd February, 2018. Specifically, the thrust of the E05 is the recognition of the vital role of science, technology and innovation in national economic development, particularly in the area of promoting Made in Nigeria Goods and Services (“MNGS”)”.
The permanent Secretary said, DICON is gradually transiting into a Military Industrial Complex (MIC), largely self-funded and will assume the role of a regulator over local and international organizations who seeks to do business with government.
Noting that this is what is obtainable in other parts of the world, Dr. Kana concluded that, “we are beginning to see the result with this commissioning”.
