Nigeria Secures Landmark Defense-Energy Partnership as DICON Teams Up with Oida Energy
Nigeria achieved a historic milestone in industrial development as the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and Oida Energy Limited signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding to establish the country’s first in-country oilfield shaped charge manufacturing facility.
The landmark agreement, signed at the Armed Forces Officers’ Mess & Suites in Abuja, represents a major advancement in realizing the government’s aspirations for enhanced local capacity development and industrialization. The partnership also marks a significant step by the nation’s military technical units toward civilian collaboration in addressing operational challenges within the petroleum industry. This strategic initiative is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base, deepen local content in the petroleum sector, and enhance national security by reducing dependence on imported oilfield explosive technologies. Until now, most specialized equipment related to the deployment and management of volatile elements has been imported at considerable cost, placing pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by high-ranking officials, including representatives from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) led by Commission Chief Executive Engr Gbenga Komolafe, representatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as well as directors and officers from both DICON and Oida Energy. Director General of DICON, Major General Babatunde Ibrahim Alaya, described the MOU as “a decisive move towards building indigenous capacity in sensitive and strategic technologies.” He emphasized that the facility will deliver safe, reliable, and locally manufactured shaped charges for upstream petroleum operations while creating jobs, enabling technology transfer, and conserving foreign exchange.
The partnership was facilitated by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), which played a critical enabling role in forging the alliance between the public and private partners, ensuring the partnership aligns with Nigeria’s local content policy and industrialization agenda.
Source: championnews.com.ng
