Nigerian Army tests indigenous military technology to reduce foreign dependence

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Read History Go to My Account Log Out Enhanced by Google BDSunday Nigerian Army tests indigenous military technology to reduce foreign dependence The Nigerian Army has begun field-testing locally developed military equipment and software as part of efforts to strengthen operational readiness,

Listen to this article Share The Nigerian Army has begun field-testing locally developed military equipment and software as part of efforts to strengthen operational readiness, improve equipment maintenance and reduce dependence on foreign technology and suppliers.

The Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, said the initiative was central to his command philosophy, which prioritises improvements in logistics, sustainment, maintenance and equipment systems to ensure enduring operational capabilities.

Shaibu, represented by the Commander of the Infantry Corps, Major General G.M. Mutkut, spoke at the opening of the Field-Test of Prototypes at the Jaji Military Cantonment Range in Kaduna State, which ran from October 5 to 8, 2026.

He said the exercise represented a shift from displaying innovative ideas to assessing their practical performance under realistic field conditions, with a view to determining whether locally developed technologies could meet the Nigerian Army’s operational requirements.

According to him, indigenous research and technological innovation are critical to closing capability gaps, strengthening equipment support systems and reducing the military’s reliance on external sources for hardware and other operational solutions.

He explained that the field tests were designed to establish the functionality, operational effectiveness and suitability of the prototypes for military use.

Shaibu said the army expected the exercise to deliver more than routine demonstrations, stressing that successful innovations should translate into improved indigenous capabilities, fewer equipment-related operational deficiencies and more reliable technological solutions for troops in the field.

He urged the assessment team to maintain professionalism, objectivity and transparency throughout the exercise to ensure that the results provide a dependable basis for decisions on the adoption and further development of the prototypes.

The army chief also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his strategic guidance and continued support for the Nigerian Army.

Earlier, the Chief of Transformation and Innovation of the Nigerian Army, Major General P.O.A. Okoye, described the exercise as an important milestone in strengthening military research and development, innovation and local technological capacity.

Okoye said field-testing was necessary to address identified operational challenges, determine areas requiring improvement and make adjustments that would enhance the performance of the prototypes.

He added that the exercise provided end-users with the opportunity to interact directly with the equipment and offer practical feedback based on their operational needs.

Such feedback, he said, would help researchers refine their products and develop solutions better suited to the army’s requirements.

Okoye urged researchers and evaluators to provide accurate and objective assessments to support informed decisions on the development and possible adoption of the technologies.

In his presentation on the exercise, the Deputy Chief of Transformation and Innovation, Brigadier General H.I. Dasuki, said militaries around the world maintained varying levels of self-sufficiency in producing military hardware.

He encouraged military and civilian research and development institutions to take advantage of the initiative to expand their technical knowledge and strengthen indigenous production capacity.

The week-long exercise featured locally developed military hardware from the Nigerian Defence Academy, the Nigerian Army Signals Maintenance Command, Nigerian Army Engineers, the Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport, the Nigerian Army College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, and the Nigerian Army College of Environmental Science and Technology.

Products developed by private-sector firms, including PRIMETEK Multi-business Solutions, PROFORCE Limited, Tera Haptic Industries and DICON Gray Insignia, were also subjected to field assessment.

The Nigerian Army conducted separate field-testing of indigenous military software products at its Space Command in Giri, Abuja.

The participation of military institutions and private-sector companies underscores the army’s efforts to strengthen collaboration between defence establishments, researchers and local manufacturers in developing solutions to operational challenges.

Beyond testing the immediate performance of the prototypes, the initiative could help identify locally produced equipment capable of meeting the army’s requirements, while creating opportunities for domestic manufacturers and research institutions to contribute more significantly to Nigeria’s defence technology ecosystem.

However, the long-term benefits will depend on the performance of the prototypes, the army’s procurement decisions and the capacity of local producers to manufacture, maintain and supply the equipment consistently.

Corps commanders, commandants of Nigerian Army institutions, serving senior military officers and retired officers attended the event.