DICON gets N8 billion allocation to produce, import weapons

In the 2025 annual budget, the Federal Government of Nigeria has allocated the sum of N8 billion to Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, DICON to produce arms and import sophisticated weapons into the country.
The amount is meant to revamp the nation’s arms producing capabilities.

DICON by the Act establishing it in 1963, has mandate to manufacture weapons locally, but the agency has been dormant and unproductive over the years, leaving the chances only for importation of arms and weapons.

The importation of ammunition over the years has led to capital flight especially as the nation has to depend on ammunition importation from other countries to defend its territorial integrity.

It was also worrisome that the agency under the Ministry of Defence has gulped billions of naira without living up to its mandate on arms and ammunition production in the past administrations, thereby causing wastage of the nation’s hard earned resources.

Between January and July 2024, the Federal Government spent no less than N63.6bn on procuring military equipment and ammunition for the Nigerian military and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Similarly, a sum of N115bn was spent on arms and ammunition imports in the first quarter of 2023.

A detailed breakdown of the 2025 Appropriation Bill before the National Assembly reveals that personnel is to gulp N2,958,154,534, overhead expenses N774,174,124, and capital projects N4,207,994,534.

The capital allocation includes funding for several new projects aimed at modernising DICON’s facilities.

Among the projects are, “Repair and Replacement of Obsolete/Dilapidated Electrical Equipment and Infrastructure at DICON Ordnance Factory, N148 million; Rehabilitation of DICON Explosive Factory Buildings in Jebba, N150 million; Procurement of Raw Materials for Weapons and Ammunition Production: N295.8 million; Procurement of Tools and Tooling for Weapons and Ammunition Lines: N292.65 million and Electrification of DICON Explosive Factory in Jebba: N180 million.

Other projects include the provision of alternative power supply for DICON headquarters at N498,500,000; rehabilitation of access roads within the DICON industrial complex at N257,966,250; and the upgrade of security facilities at DICON factory complexes and headquarters at N281,896,000.

Additionally, a sum of N155,321,929 was projected for the renovation and rehabilitation of the weapons assemblies workshop, N161,159,806 for the establishment of an effluent plant at the DICON ordnance factory, and N114,299,108 for the construction of a blast-proof explosive research laboratory at the DICON research and development center.