The Federal Government is seeking new suppliers to provide the country with ammunition, according to a report by African Intelligence.
In the report which was obtained by our correspondent on Saturday, the Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, are leading the effort to secure new ammunition suppliers for the country.
The report added that the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria currently produces only small-calibre ammunition between 7.62 and 9mm.
It stated that an ammunition company, Rheinmetall Denel Munitions, which produces ammunition from 40mm had been approached by DICON for partnership.
The report partly read, “The defence ministry headed by Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and the head of the army General Christopher Musa are leading a drive to find new ammunition suppliers for Abuja.
“Dicon currently produces only small-calibre ammunition (7.62 and 9mm) in its factories based in Kaduna in northern Nigeria, while RDM manufactures a range of ammunition starting at 40mm.
“Dicon has recently made several attempts to build international partnerships to develop local arms production in Nigeria.”
According to the report, the ammunition has become very expensive since the commencement of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, where these shells have been extensively used.
“The Nigerian high command has also launched consultations with suppliers to rapidly equip its artillery with 155mm shells. These supplies have become much more expensive on the defence market since the start of the war between Ukraine and Russia in which these shells are extensively used,” it stated.
