Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria

Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON)[2] is the state-run defense corporation of Nigeria and operated by the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is responsible for the production of defense equipment and civilian products.

Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria
TypeState-owned enterprise
IndustryDefence
Founded1964 (1964)[1]
Headquarters
Kaduna, Kaduna
,
Nigeria
Area served
Major General Victor Okwudili Ezugwu (Director General)
ProductsMunitions, Small arms, Artillery, Explosives, Armored vehicles MRAPs
OwnerNigerian Armed Forces
Websitedicon.gov.ng

History

DICON was established in 1964 through an act of parliament in the Nigerian National Assembly.[3]

By 2018, Major General Victor Okwudili Ezugwu as appointed as DICON's director-general.[4]

Products

It makes licensed copies of the Mills M36M (M36) handgrenade, Browning P-35 (NP-1) pistol, Beretta M12 (PMG-12) submachine gun, Beretta BM59 and FN FAL (NR1 Model 7.62) battle rifles, FN MAG (GPMG) machinegun, and RPG-7 (RPG) rocket launcher. The OBJ-006, a copy of the 7.62mm AK-47 assault rifle, is produced by DICON in 2006.[5]

DICoN has recently procured rights to manufacture a copy of the Polish FB 5.56mm Kbs wz.96 Beryl assault rifle, possibly to replace the FAL and/or AK-47 in service.[6]

In 2012, DICON and Marom Dolphin signed an agreement to establish a joint venture to produce ballistic vests.[7] In 2013, DICON officials denied allegations that Nigerian-made ballistic vests from DICON factories are made under substandard conditions.[8]

On October 3, 2019, DICON unveiled its first armored vehicle, known as the Ezugwu MRAP.[9] The MRAP was made in collaboration with the Nigerian Army Command Engineering Depot.[9] It was named after Major General Victor Ezugwu, who was known for his efforts in fighting against Boko Haram, [10] who is the director-general of DICON at the end of 2018.[11][12] This was publicly shown in a ceremony by Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai at the Abuja International Trade Fair Complex during a Nigerian Army Day event.[9]

In the coronavirus outbreak in 2020, DICON has produced ventilators, face shields, face masks and hand sanitizers.[13]

References
  1. Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria. "Our history - Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria - DICON". Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  2. Reuters Staff (2015-08-07). "Nigeria's President Buhari announces weapons production plan". Reuters. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  3. "Nigeria - Defense Industries Corporation (DICON)". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  4. https://www.bbc.com/igbo/afirika-50668554
  5. "Nigeria will manufacture Polish-originated AK assault rifle derivatives | March 2018 Global Defense Security army news industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2018 | Archive News year". www.armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  6. The National Interest The Buzz Why This AK47 on Steroids Could Be the Most Powerful Gun on the Planet by Robert Beckhusen (March 29, 2018)
  7. "Joint venture signed to set up ballistic vest factory in Nigeria". defenceWeb. 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  8. "DICON denies production of sub-standard bullet proof". Vanguard News. 2013-06-06. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  9. https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/nigeria-unveils-new-apc/
  10. https://www.armyrecognition.com/october_2019_global_defense_security_army_news_industry/nigeria_unveils_ezugwu_new_4%C3%974_armored_personnel_carrier.html
  11. https://www.overtdefense.com/2019/11/18/nigerian-armed-forces-purchased-28-local-ezugwu-armored-vehicles/
  12. https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_january_2021_global_security_army_industry/nigerian_army_orders_52_additional_ezugwu_mrap_vehicles.html
  13. "COVID-19: Nigeria's defence ministry produces ventilator". TheCable. 2020-04-20. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
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