DICON-D7G to Launch Nigeria’s First Military Jetty in Lagos

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria–D7G (DICON-D7G) said it will commission what it described as Nigeria’s first military jetty in Lagos in June 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen local defence manufacturing and logistics.

According to the company, the facility is planned near Tin Can Island Port and is expected to serve as a dedicated gateway for importing components, assembling equipment and supporting exports for defence products made in Nigeria.

DICON-D7G Chief Executive Officer Osman Chennar said during an on-site assessment that the jetty is central to the group’s next phase of expansion. He said the project will help the organisation reduce reliance on third-party maritime logistics, which it currently uses for key inbound supplies.

Chennar said the new structure will handle Completely Knocked Down (CKD) and Semi-Knocked Down (SKD) components, raw materials and other inputs needed for domestic assembly lines. He said this should reduce turnaround time and lower demurrage costs while improving supply-chain security for defence production.

He said the jetty is intended to support local manufacturing and assembly across multiple product lines, including small and medium arms, ammunition, tactical drones, unmanned systems, anti-jammer drones, and 4×4 and 6×6 mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles.

The CEO added that DICON-D7G has already started producing DG103 rifles in Kaduna for both Nigerian and African markets. He said the current production line has created momentum, but that maritime bottlenecks remain a challenge for scale. The jetty, he said, is designed to close that gap by linking importation, assembly and outbound shipment in one chain.

On employment, Chennar said more than 2,000 retired senior military officers are expected to be engaged when the facility becomes operational, alongside about 5,000 civilian workers including engineers, welders, fabricators, drone specialists and logistics personnel.

He said retired officers are being integrated because of their field experience and discipline, while technical civilian recruitment is aimed at expanding industrial capacity and creating skilled jobs.

A board member of DICON-D7G, Major General Mainasara Abdul Mainasara (retd), said the project marks a key point in Nigeria’s push for defence self-reliance. He said the jetty will function as both an import and export gateway and could improve Nigeria’s ability to supply friendly African countries with locally assembled equipment.

Mainasara said local production can reduce pressure on foreign exchange and build domestic expertise, especially when global supply chains are unstable. He added that the plan aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on self-reliance, job creation and diversification.

DICON-D7G said the June 2026 launch is expected to represent a major step in Nigeria’s effort to move from heavy dependence on imported defence hardware to a stronger production-and-export position.