Abuja — The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and RusselSmith Nigeria Limited formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in October, launching a strategic partnership to strengthen local production capabilities for defense equipment using advanced manufacturing technologies. This alliance directly executes the strategic mandate of the DICON Act 2023 and aims to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on foreign military imports substantially.
The core of the partnership is the integration of industrial additive manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, into DICON’s production lines. RusselSmith, already a leading provider of advanced AM solutions in the Nigerian energy sector, brings established expertise in producing high-performance components for demanding industries like oil and gas.
The DICON Act 2023, assented to by President Bola Tinubu, provides the necessary legal framework for DICON to transition from a government-run ordnance factory into a modern Military Industrial Complex (MIC). This legislative overhaul empowers DICON to enter into transparent and predictable partnerships with private entities, thereby fostering local industrial participation.
Major General Babatunde Alaya, Director-General of DICON, spoke at the signing ceremony in October, emphasising the pivotal role of the new law. “This strategic alliance with RusselSmith is a monumental step in the actualisation of the Military Industrial Complex,” he stated. “It is the direct result of the legal framework provided by the DICON Act 2023.”
The technical scope of the collaboration is two-fold: Component Production: Utilising AM to manufacture high-performance parts, tools, and complex assemblies for critical defence systems. Additive technologies, which include Powder Bed Fusion and Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing (CSAM), enable the rapid, on-demand fabrication of metal and polymer components, a vital capability for maintaining operational readiness and reducing dependency on lengthy global supply chains. Material Localisation: The partnership will focus on developing a local ecosystem for specialised manufacturing materials, including the production of metal powders and filaments that meet the stringent quality standards required for defence and aerospace applications. This material localisation is essential for genuine self-reliance.
Kayode Adeleke, CEO of RusselSmith, reaffirmed his company’s dedication to the initiative, noting the partnership would “build local capacity for high-value manufacturing and enhance our ability to deliver quality, precision, and reliability through the use of advanced 3D manufacturing technologies.”
Addressing Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
The partnership addresses a core vulnerability facing the Nigerian Armed Forces: the difficulty and expense of procuring spare parts for diverse, often ageing, imported equipment. By shifting to on-demand local fabrication via AM, DICON can potentially bypass international supply disruptions, trade restrictions, and excessive foreign exchange expenditures.
This concept aligns with the broader push from industry bodies. In August, the Defence Industries Association of Nigeria (DIAN) Secretary-General, Kola Balogun, urged the Federal Government and the Armed Forces to increase patronage of domestically produced defence equipment. Balogun argued that consistent procurement would not only strengthen national defence capabilities but also stimulate economic growth, creating jobs and reducing youth idleness, which can indirectly help mitigate local insurgency recruitment.
Maria Sambo, Public Relations Officer of DICON, framed the MoU as a “landmark” move toward technological self-reliance. She noted that adopting industrial 3D manufacturing “will revolutionise DICON’s production capabilities” by enabling the rapid, localised fabrication of complex components using materials such as metal alloys and advanced polymers.
DICON and RusselSmith are setting the foundation for a sustainable, localised defence industrial base. By leveraging advanced manufacturing techniques proven in other demanding sectors like oil and gas, this alliance aims to provide the Nigerian Armed Forces with an agile, resilient logistical backbone necessary for confronting contemporary security challenges.