By Muhammad Mamman
In a compelling call to action, defence and security technology expert Zulaykhah Aileru has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to prioritize homegrown military equipment production to strengthen Nigeria’s security and sovereignty. Writing in her incisive opinion piece, Africa’s Defence Dilemma, published Tuesday, Aileru highlighted the perils of Nigeria’s heavy reliance on foreign arms imports, which she argues stifles technological progress, drains economic resources, and undermines national independence.
Aileru revealed that Nigeria has spent nearly $20 billion on defence and security between 2016 and 2022, with arms imports alone surpassing ₦22.7 billion in Q1 2025. She pointed to a critical moment during the Boko Haram conflict when the U.S. withheld weapon sales over human rights concerns, leaving Nigeria scrambling for solutions. “This is the danger of depending on foreign allies for our defence,” she warned.
While progress has been made through Executive Order 5, which mandates prioritizing local technologies, Aileru noted that partnerships between the Ministry of Defence and private innovators, alongside investments in DICON, NASENI, and NOTAP, are laying a foundation for a domestic defence industry. However, challenges like opaque procurement processes, weak intellectual property protections, and sluggish testing approvals continue to hinder growth.
To unleash Nigeria’s potential, Aileru proposed bold reforms: tax breaks, export credits, and streamlined regulations to spur innovation and attract investment. She emphasized that a self-reliant defence ecosystem would not only mitigate external risks but also drive economic growth and enable rapid responses to threats like insurgency, piracy, and cyber warfare.
“Industrial sovereignty is non-negotiable,” Aileru declared. “Africa has the capacity to build its own defence technology. The question is: will we seize this moment?” Her rallying cry positions defence industrialization as a catalyst for economic transformation and a cornerstone of continental stability, urging Nigeria’s leaders to act decisively.
