The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria-D7G (DICON-D7G) will officially launch the country’s first dedicated military jetty in June 2026, located near the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos. The project aims to convert Nigeria into a regional defence manufacturing hub by reducing the costs associated with importing raw components and exporting finished systems to African markets. The jetty functions as a logistics anchor for the partnership between the state-owned DICON and the private firm D7G Company Limited.
DICON-D7G Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Osman Chennar described the jetty as a “strategic national asset” that will improve efficiency, strengthen local manufacturing, and lower demurrage costs. By reducing reliance on third-party maritime logistics, the corporation intends to shorten the turnaround time for delivering equipment to the front lines. The facility will eventually employ 7,000 people, including 2,000 retired military officers and 5,000 civilian specialists in engineering, welding, logistics, and drone technology.
Major General Mainasara Abdul Masanawa (retd.) described the development as a turning point for national defence self-reliance and a method for conserving foreign exchange and advancing technology transfer.
The partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 18 January 2024, by the Director General of DICON, Major General A.E. Edet and the CEO of D7G, Osman Chennar, at the DICON Headquarters. The partnership seeks to modernise the Nigerian Armed Forces while reducing a long-standing dependence on foreign arms suppliers.
The Lagos jetty will specifically support the production of various military equipment, such as small and medium arms, ammunition, tactical drones, unmanned systems, anti-jammer drone systems, and armoured vehicles (MRAP Vehicles). Current operations at the DICON-D7G facility in Kaduna have already yielded the first batch of nearly 1,000 DG103 assault rifles as of late 2025. These rifles are a licensed and upgraded version of the Russian Kalashnikov AK-103, chambered for the 7.62x39mm M43 cartridge.
The jetty will facilitate the assembly of Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles in 4×4 and 6×6 configurations. These land systems are central to Nigeria’s shift toward indigenous sustainment. In 2019, DICON demonstrated this capability with the Ezugwu MRAP, a tactical vehicle that uses flat-bottom technology designed to withstand 12kg mine blasts and small arms fire up to 12.7mm.
Beyond armoured vehicles, the DICON-D7G is targeting production of 60 million rounds of ammunition annually. This volume is intended to create a self-sustaining ecosystem that can withstand external supply shocks or international export restrictions. The corporation is also moving into the unmanned systems sector to address modern battlefield requirements, establishing lines for the domestic assembly of tactical strike drones and anti-drone early warning systems. Future production schedules include .308 calibre sniper rifles, 9mm pistols, and automatic grenade launchers to provide a full spectrum of small arms.
The push for domestic production follows the August 2025 African Chiefs of Defence Summit in Abuja, where Nigerian leadership emphasised reducing reliance on foreign suppliers. By domesticating the supply chain, the Ministry of Defence aims to insulate the military from external supply shocks and conserve foreign exchange. This strategy aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” initiative, which treats defence industrialisation as a driver for economic growth. President Bola Tinubu signed the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Bill, 2023, into law, giving a new impetus to the country’s defence industry.
The establishment of the jetty marks a transition from assembly to a fully integrated industrial ecosystem. As the June 2026 launch approaches, the corporation is expected to begin the large-scale recruitment of technical staff to man the new Lagos facility. This growth suggests that Nigeria is moving to close the capability gap between its operational needs and its industrial output.