FG Launches DICON Tech Institute and Solar Power Plant in Kaduna to Cut Foreign Arms Imports

In a major stride toward national security self-reliance, the Federal Government has officially launched the DICON Institute of Technology in Kaduna, establishing a dedicated academic and research hub aimed at producing home-grown military hardware and defense technology.

Inaugurating the facility, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, declared that the institute marks a decisive departure from Nigeria’s decades-long dependence on foreign countries for weapons, tactical gear, and defense equipment. By training local talent and developing technical expertise internally, the nation aims to build a resilient, self-sustaining military-industrial complex.

The new institution, managed under the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) led by Director-General Maj.-Gen. Babatunde Alaya, will train engineers, technicians, and specialized researchers. Having secured operational approvals from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and official listing under JAMB, the institute creates Nigeria’s first formal tertiary pathway directly into the defense manufacturing sector.

Beyond hardware research, the event also featured the commissioning of a 240-kilowatt solar inverter facility paired with a 343-kilowatt-hour energy storage system at Yakusak, Kaduna. The clean energy project was designed to supply stable, off-grid electricity to DICON’s industrial plants, ensuring that manufacturing operations continue uninterrupted by national grid instabilities.

“For decades, Nigeria relied heavily on foreign sources for critical defense capabilities, a situation with significant strategic and economic consequences,” stated Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle. “The establishment of this institute represents a major milestone in changing that narrative. It will serve as a hub where ideas are transformed into physical products and technologies that serve our national interest.”

Echoing the minister’s sentiments, DICON Director-General Maj.-Gen. Babatunde Alaya noted that signing the DICON Act 2023 provided the statutory backing needed to bridge the gap between military research and commercial mass production. He assured that the institute will partner closely with local universities and private industries to turn innovation into battlefield-ready equipment for the Nigerian Armed Forces and security agencies.

With the new technology hub and solar facility now operational, defense authorities expect the initiative to cut foreign military spending, spur domestic technical innovation, and strengthen troop readiness against national security threats.