African military leaders advocate for indigenous defence manufacturing

Military leaders from Kenya and Nigeria are calling for increased investment in local defence manufacturing and technology to enhance security autonomy and reduce reliance on foreign military equipment across Africa.

In Kenya, Lieutenant General John Omenda, Vice Chief of the Defence Forces, highlighted the importance of indigenous production during a meeting of the Kenya Ordnance Factories Corporation (KOFC). As part of these efforts to build logistical resilience, KOFC unveiled a locally manufactured Meal Ready-to-Eat (MRE) ration designed for military personnel during field deployments and training.

Separately, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, emphasized the need for African nations to harness local technical expertise and strengthen cross-border industrial partnerships. During a visit to the Rwanda Engineering and Manufacturing Corporation (REMCO), Shaibu noted that expanding local manufacturing is critical to improving equipment availability and reducing vulnerability to global supply chain disruptions. He also reiterated the strategic objective of strengthening Nigeria’s domestic industrial base through the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).