Defence Industries Body Inaugurated

In line with the Presidential directive to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to establish a Military Industrial Complex( MIC) with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) as the hub, stakeholders in the industry have inaugurated the Defence Industries Association of Nigeria (DIAN). The association will harmonise all leading companies in the private sector engaged in production and supply of defence related gadget pertinent to the establishment of the MIC.

The maiden meeting of the association comprising all leading private companies in the defence related industries (DRI) held in Abuja recently and was attended by dignitaries including: the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Hajia Nuratu Batagaranwa; Director General of DICON, Major General Bamidele Ogunkale; Director, Joint Services, Ministry of Defence, Mrs. Morenike Mustapha; Representative from South Africa Defence Industries (SDI), Mr. Simphiwe Hamilton and Head PPP unit Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment (FMTI), Mr. Ndirpaya Batta. Speaking at the maiden meeting of the association, Batagaranwa stated that the association was founded to promote local content input in pursuant of the overall development objective for Public and Private Partnership (PPP) initiative project necessary to accelerate private investment in critical security infrastructure. The focal point of the meeting centre don fulfilling the material requirement of the country contemporary security challenges through a productive partnership and collaboration with companies in the DRI’s and promoting the interest of corporate members. The meeting was supported by general consensus to kick-start and set the ball rolling for a Defence Industries Association of Nigeria (DIAN).