Advocates for Setting up of Nigeria Defence Funds
- Safiu Kehinde
A security expert and Managing Director of DICON Gray Insigna, Bem Garba, has explained reasons behind defence contractors inability to help Nigeria in tackling the country insecurity in terms of arms and ammunition production.
Garba made these known during an interview on Arise TV’s Good Morning programme on Thursday.
While acknowledging the Federal Government’s efforts in introduction of enabling policies such as the newly approved Nigeria-First policy, Garba still harped on the need for enabling environment and funding for defence contractors to thrive.
He cited the inadequate funding of the sector as part of the challenges which made it ineffective enough to help the Nigerian military.
“I personally and other defence contractors have struggled to participate. But this administration has given usthe opportunity to actuallly get involved from a realistic perspective.
“In the past, it was lip service and writing the papers. But with the coming of this administration, we saw the coming of the new DICON Act which enable an organization like ours to join hands with organizations like DICON to work together and bring about solution that are practical and sustainable.
“The Defence contractors need an enabling environment to be able to build our trade. Sources of finance because defense is very expensive, Local contractors do not have access to finance like the way oil and gas industries have.
“When we go to the banks, many banks policies are not exactly favourable to manufacturing of defense products.
“This has been a challenge that has stunted the growth of the industry.
“But with the policies we are seeing today now, we are optimistic that the issues of making funds available for defense contractors will also be looked into.He said.
Garba advocated for the set up of Nigeria Defence Funds.
This, according to him, will help contractors to work without being subjected to the harsh Nigerian financial market conditions.
He said local contractors are capable of manufacturing armoured personnel carriers and other equipment which are still being given to foreign contractors.
“We have manufacturers who can produce armoured personnel carriers. We have manufacturers who can produce ballistic equipment, personal ballistic equipment for troops which include bulletproof vest and helmets.
“There are people here who can actually manufacturer those things to meet international standards. We have capacity to do ammunition locally. There are all kinds of kits, including the drones.
“Our company is not just restricted to manufacturing products. There is also training capabilities.
“A lot of our trainings are outsourced in foreign countries. We have the capacity to develop the training infrastructure that is required locally to reduce the cost of ticket, travel, tuition, that is required of in tactical training abroad because of the lack of tactical training infrastructures.” Garba added.