The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), said it has partnered with a firm, Russel Smith Nigeria Limited to revolutionise the country’s defence industry .
This is contained in a statement by Maria Sambo , Public Relations Officer,
DICON, on Monday in Kaduna.
Sambo said, “In a significant stride towards technological self-reliance and the realization of Nigeria’s Military Industrial Complex (MIC), DICON and Russel Smith have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
“The strategic move is to advance the local production of additive materials for the manufacturing of critical defence equipment.”
She said the collaboration was formalised on October 20, which marked the direct implementation of the DICON Act 2023.
According to Sambo, the act empowers DICON to establish high-value partnerships with local private-sector expertise to strengthen national security through indigenous production.
She said: “At the heart of this MoU is the adoption of Additive Manufacturing (AM)—also known as industrial 3D printing—which will revolutionise DICON’s production capabilities.
“Additive manufacturing technologies enable rapid, on-demand, and localised fabrication of complex components using high-performance materials such as metal alloys and advanced polymers.”
Sambo explained that, Russel Smith, a leading Nigerian company in industrial advanced manufacturing with expertise in specialised AM technologies such as Cold Spray and large-format printing, would collaborate with DICON to
localise production.
said the partnership would significantly reduce reliance on foreign supply chains for spare parts, tooling, and obsolete components for military platforms and systems.
Sambo said this would also introduce and customise additive materials, the raw powders and filaments to meet the exacting standards required for defence and aerospace applications.
She added that it would further facilitate technology transfer, deploy advanced industrial 3D printing hardware and provide extensive training to up skill DICON’s Engineers and Technicians.
Sambo disclosed that the signing ceremony was attended by senior executives from both organidations and reflected a shared commitment to the “Nigeria First” policy in the defence sector.
She added, “The partnership demonstrates that DICON is not only acquiring technology but also building a sustainable ecosystem that ensures operational readiness and enables rapid prototyping and localized production of equipment suited to Nigeria’s unique security challenges.’
Also seaking at the event, Maj.-Gen. Babatunde Alaya, Director-General of DICON, emphasised the importance of the DICON Act 2023 in enabling such strategic partnerships:
“This strategic alliance with Russel Smith is a monumental step in the actualization of the Military Industrial Complex.
“It is the direct result of the legal framework provided by the DICON Act 2023, and I must, thank the President, Bola Tinubu, for assenting to this pivotal legislation.”
Sambo quoted Alaya as appreciating the Minister of Defence, the Minister of State for Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Service Chiefs for their continuous guidance and unwavering support to DICON, which facilitated its achievements.
“My full support is behind this initiative as it promises to be a game-changer for our national security architecture,”Alaya said .
Also speaking, Mr Kayode Adeleke, CEO of Russel Smith Nigeria Limited, reaffirmed his company’s commitment to supporting the partnership.
“We are proud to partner with DICON on this transformative initiative that will redefine advanced manufacturing in Nigeria.
“Together, we are laying the foundation for a new era of indigenous defence innovation and industrial capability.”Adeleke said.
Sambo said the DICON– Russel Smith partnership positioned Nigeria as a regional hub for advanced defence manufacturing.
” By integrating additive manufacturing into the MIC framework, the collaboration will enhance the operational capabilities of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“It will enable the export of high-quality defence components to allied African nations fulfilling the DICON Act’s vision of national self-reliance and regional leadership,” she said.
