Chidimma Uchegbu – Abuja
A member of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, has said that Nigeria’s defence industry has the capacity to drive economic growth if managed well .
Senator Nwoko said this in Abuja at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) 60th Anniversary and Maiden Africa Defence Industries Conference at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Thursday.
Nwoko was also the Chief Book Launcher, at the event.
According to the Senator, defence sector is a global powerhouse, with many countries relying on it as a key driver of their economies.
Nwoko, whose presence at the event gave colour to the occasion noted that the defence sector is a global powerhouse
” In Nigeria, we have the resources and the potential to achieve the same, but this requires considerable investment and active participation from the private sector. We cannot leave everything to the government.” He said.
“To achieve this, the government must play its part by identifying and supporting specialized companies through licensing and approval, and also by promoting public awareness. With the right investments, we can create jobs, attract investors, and reduce our reliance on imports.” He said.
In his words , he emphasized the importance of local production and manufacturing in the sector.
“He firmly believed that Nigeria has the capacity and financial resources to make the defence industry as profitable as our oil, gas, and banking sectors, he stated.
