MINISTER OF DEFENCE LAUDS DICON’S LOCAL EQUIPMENT PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES

The Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi has concluded a two-day working visit to the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Kaduna.

The Defence Minister’s tour of duty to DICON which is the second in recent times coincides with the 56th anniversary of its establishment.

While in the DICON Industrial Complex, General Magashi (rtd) inaugurated some completed projects. These include; refurbished Ballistic vest Production Unit and the Special Equipment factory and some on-going projects being executed in compliance with the Federal Government’s policy to emplace Local Content Initiative to drive national aspirations for technological advancement.

He therefore charged the management of the Corporation not to compromise globally acceptable standard in the production of weapons for induction into the theatres of the on-going Military Campaigns to defend the Nation’s territorial integrity.

The Defence Minister who commended the foresight of the Country’s Founding Fathers for establishing the Corporation by an Act of Parliament since 1964 expressed optimism based on what he saw on ground that it is on the march to regain its lost glory.

While Commending the Director General of DICON, Major General Victor Ezugwu for what he described as his outstanding performance in driving the Statutory Mandate of the Corporation as entrenched in the Presidential Executive Order 5 which is aimed at emplacing strategic and effective utilisation of local contents for the production of Defence Equipment, he assured the management of the support of the Commander- in- Chief (C-in-C) of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari at all times.

Earlier, DICON’s Director General Major General Victor Ezugwu appreciated the Support of the Federal Government for empowering the Corporation to deliver on its mandate.

General Ezugwu said such strategic support by the government has given impetus to enhanced productive capabilities of DICON, accounting for the production of the Nation’s first Armoured Vehicles MRAPS and some range of weapons.

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria is the premier Defence Ministry Parastatal charged with the Statutory duty to produce Munitions, Small Arms and Light Weapons for the use of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other Security Agencies.

It also has the mandate to manufacture other Military related items and Civilian Products.

-Dedeigbo Ayodeji

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