By Elohor Igbru
Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Buratai said Nigeria will be self sufficient in weapons manufacturing and may commence the production of helicopters and fighter jets if the commitment shown by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) is maintained.
Buratai also expressed satisfaction and commended the level of achievements and transformation achieved within one year by the Director General of DICON Major General VO Ezugwu.
The Army Chief who paid a visit to the headquarters of DICON in Kaduna was optimistic that with the state of the real transformation in infrastructure, equipment and general facilities at DICON, Nigeria is on the path of attaining self sufficiency in military armaments and hardwares.
He said Nigerian Army has made sufficient investment to support DICON to accelerate research and development in local production of weaponry and assorted military equipments.
” The collaborative efforts and result oriented partnership between DICON and Command Engineering Depot Kaduna has achieved tremendous successes in repairs and production of vehicles and weapons for troops in different theaters of operations in Nigeria. This ingenuity has not only boost the morale and fighting spirit of troops, but has saved the country huge resources on importation of arms, ammunition and other military hardwares/equipment,” he said.
General Buratai was conducted around the newly rejuvenated factories and some production lines where he inspected some products and materials produced by DICON. He said that with the level of progress of work and the zealousness of DICON Staff, soon Nigeria will start production of helicopters and jet fighters.
While applauding the quality leadership of DICON, he urged the management and the entire staff to redouble their efforts with utmost dedication and selfless disposition to assigned responsibilities in order to consolidate on the successes recorded so far.
