In a major step towards achieving self-sufficiency in defence manufacturing and reviving Nigeria’s moribund steel industry, two federal ministries have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding for the local production of military hardware at the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.
The pact, signed between the Ministry of Steel Development and the Ministry of Defence, aims to leverage Ajaokuta’s vast industrial capacity to produce essential military equipment, including armoured vehicles, weapons, helmets, and other security materials.
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Steel Development, Abubakar Audu, and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, on Monday, November 10, 2025, at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Steel Development and signed by Assistant Director (Information & Public Relations), Tine-Iulun M.A, on Tuesday, the pact establishes a collaborative framework to utilise the resources of the Ajaokuta Steel Company for the development and production of military-grade equipment.
The MoU was executed in two parts, one between the Federal Ministry of Steel Development and the Federal Ministry of Defence, and another between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria and the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.
