Nigerian Army Tests Local Military Technology, Targets Reduced Foreign Dependence

The Nigerian Army is stepping up efforts to reduce dependence on imported military hardware through the development and testing of locally produced equipment and indigenous defence technologies.

The initiative took centre stage during a four-day field assessment of military equipment prototypes held from October 5 to 8, 2026, at the Jaji Military Cantonment Range in Kaduna State.

The exercise was designed to evaluate the functionality, operational effectiveness and suitability of locally developed military hardware for potential use by the Nigerian Army.

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, said strengthening logistics, equipment maintenance and sustainment systems remained central to improving the Army’s operational capabilities.

Shaibu, represented by the Commander of the Infantry Corps, Major General G.M. Mutkut, said the field assessment was intended to move indigenous innovations beyond conceptual presentations to practical testing under realistic operational conditions.

He emphasised that local research and technological innovation were critical to addressing capability gaps, improving equipment support systems and reducing reliance on foreign sources.

The army chief urged the assessment team to ensure that the exercise delivered practical solutions to operational challenges rather than becoming a routine demonstration of prototypes.

He said the findings should help the Army identify reliable equipment, address operational deficiencies and strengthen the development of indigenous technological solutions.

Shaibu also charged evaluators to maintain professionalism and objectivity to ensure that the results provided a credible basis for decisions on further development and possible deployment.

He expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his strategic guidance and continued support for the Nigerian Army.

Earlier, the Chief of Transformation and Innovation, Army, Major General P.O.A. Okoye, described the exercise as a significant step towards strengthening the military’s research, development and innovation capabilities.

Okoye said the tests would help identify weaknesses in locally developed equipment and provide opportunities for adjustments before further development or possible deployment.

He noted that the participation of end-users was particularly important because their direct interaction with the prototypes would generate practical feedback to guide improvements.

The Deputy Chief of Transformation and Innovation, Brigadier General H.I. Dasuki, said the exercise also provided military and civilian research institutions with an opportunity to contribute to Nigeria’s indigenous defence technology development.

Participating institutions included the Nigerian Defence Academy, Nigerian Army Signals Maintenance Command, Nigerian Army Engineers, Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport, Nigerian Army College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, and Nigerian Army College of Environmental Science and Technology.

Private-sector participants included PRIMETEK Multi-business Solutions, PROFORCE Limited, Tera Haptic Industries and DICON Gray Insignia.

The exercise also featured the testing of locally developed military software at the Nigerian Army Space Command in Giri, Abuja.

The Army’s push for indigenous equipment development is aimed at building local capacity to design, assess and maintain military technology, while improving operational readiness and reducing dependence on external suppliers.