Bello Matawalle, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, has revealed that the Armed Forces require an annual supply of 200 million rounds of ammunition to effectively carry out their operations. This necessity, which would cost the Nigerian government nearly ₦600 billion, is part of a broader effort to ensure the country’s military is adequately equipped.

The announcement was made during the formalization of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI). The MoU aims to establish a domestic ammunition manufacturing facility in Nigeria, reducing the nation’s reliance on foreign suppliers and ensuring a steady supply of ammunition.

Minister Matawalle expressed the urgency of this initiative, stating, “The requirement of just the military is about 200 million rounds of ammunition per annum. When combined with other paramilitary forces and the police, the total demand reaches approximately 350 million rounds per year.”

He also emphasized the government’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s defence industry, noting that by the end of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, DICON aims to be exporting military capabilities, significantly reducing the nation’s reliance on imported military hardware and ammunition.