By Thompson Yamput
The Federal Government says plans are underway for the production of military hardware and the establishment of a Defence Industrial Hub at Ajaokuta SteelComplex in Kogi.
Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, Minister of Steel Development, made the disclosure in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Lizzy Okoji, on Wednesday in Lokoja.
The minister said that he and the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, held a strategic meeting at the Ship House, Defence Headquarters in Abuja, as part of ongoing efforts to deepen inter-ministerial collaboration for the hardware production.
Prince Audu said that their meeting centred on finalising the framework for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Steel Development for the achievements of such dream.
“The collaboration is aimed at the production of military-equipments and the establishment of a Military Industrial Complex at the Ajaokuta Steel Plant in Kogi.
“This initiative stems from a collaboration formalised in March 2024 under the leadership of both ministers, in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“The goal is to leverage local capacity to drive the Federal Government’s vision of self-reliance in military hardware production and national industrialisation in line with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (“DICON”) Act 2023.(ephemeralnews.com.ng)
