Nigeria no longer imports combat drones or bombs – Echefu
…Says made-in-Nigeria weapons now drive military operations
By Ukpono Ukpong
Nigeria has attained a significant milestone in military self-reliance as it no longer relies on foreign imports for combat drones and bombs.
The Chairman of the EIB Group, Dr. Bright Echefu, made the disclosure yesterday, during a facility tour of the group’s subsidiaries in Abuja. EIB
According to Echefu, this breakthrough is driven by indigenous defence manufacturers like the EIB Group, which now produces advanced military-grade drones and explosive systems using locally sourced materials and manpower.
EIB Group, through its subsidiary Briech UAS, is credited as the first African company to design and assemble unmanned attack drones and bomb systems using 100% Nigerian technology and workforce. The company also provides air surveillance services for the Nigerian military in conflict-prone regions.
Speaking with journalists, Echefu said the shift to homegrown military technology was made possible by government policies that prioritize local content in defence procurement.
Explaining further, he said these policies mandate that federal agencies must first explore indigenous options before seeking foreign solutions. Adding that the result has been a thriving ecosystem of Nigerian defence companies manufacturing drones, bullets, assault rifles, and surveillance equipment.
“The Nigerian government has recognized that there is a need to allow homegrown companies to thrive. There are policies to assist indigenous companies. So that’s why the federal government has made it mandatory that before you start looking outside, look inwards to see any company in Nigeria that offers the services that you require or they have the products that you want to buy.
“That’s what has helped us. And if you noticed, we are doing a lot in the area of equipment production for the security agencies in Nigeria. And that’s because of the policies of the government.
“I can tell you Nigeria doesn’t import drones anymore. They rely on local manufacturing companies like ours. Even bombs are also produced locally. And a lot of things. Defence Industries Cooperation of Nigeria (DICON) has been producing bullets for a long time and even started producing assault rifles. So, a lot of the things currently used in the northeast and some other locations are actually homegrown solutions. And we’re grateful to this government. It has never been this better.” He said
During the tour of Briech UAS facility, journalists were shown tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed for real-time intelligence gathering, AI-powered systems used for border patrol and emergency response. The drones are equipped with advanced thermal imaging and electro-optical devices that allow night operations, enabling security forces to detect human presence in dense vegetation and underground bunkers.
Echefu said this technological advancement has significantly reduced Nigeria’s foreign exchange burden, as military-grade equipment is now priced and sold in naira.
While it is difficult to quantify the exact savings, the EIB Chairman said the elimination of dollar-denominated imports has eased pressure on the nation’s currency and boosted the local economy through job creation and technology transfer.
He revealed that EIB Group currently employs over 1,000 staff, most of whom are deployed in the field, with additional troops from the Nigerian military attached to their operations.
The company says it has the capacity to manufacture and deploy fully functional attack drones within one week, a feat that underscores its responsiveness to national security demands.
On capacity, Echefu declared, “Yes, 100%. Nigeria has the capacity right now to end this insurgency with the amount of local companies that are investing heavily.”
Despite the security threats still facing the country, especially in the North-East and North-West regions, the Defense Tech firm maintains that local defence technology is playing a critical role in curbing insurgency.
He attributes the persistent security challenges not to a lack of capacity, but to the evolving nature of asymmetric warfare and the limited visibility of military successes in the public domain.
“The insecurity is broad, and every state has its own peculiar problem. So you can’t use the same approach you used in Zanfara, for example, for Plateau. It’s not the same.
“Security is broad. So, depending on what area of security we talking about. Now, these elements we are referring to as threats have been there for a very long time. They are within us.
“Some of them are living in communities. You can’t just go to a community and destroy everybody there because of one person. So what we’ve done or what is happening is that there are isolated picks. And that process is an ongoing process. Compared to what it was in 2010, 2008, during the major Boko Haram activities, a lot has improved right now. It’s just unfortunate that the military does not publicize what successes they’ve recorded.
“You won’t believe the amount of successes that has been recorded by the Armed Forces of Nigeria. But you know, they are very quiet about their things. If I tell you how many have been neutralized, you’ll be shocked. You will be shocked by the numbers.
“And again, you know, recently there was a jailbreak in Niger Republic, and a lot of elements from that side also have migrated into Nigeria. So you can understand that the pressure on the Armed Forces of Nigeria is quite heavy. But they are doing extremely, very, very well. They are doing a lot. A whole lot. I’m speaking from experience.” Echefu said
Although EIB has not begun exporting its products, the company says domestic demand is currently overwhelming. Its production capacity is focused on saturating the Nigerian market, particularly with the rising demand from military and paramilitary agencies engaged in counter-insurgency and intelligence operations.
He, however, urged the federal government to sustain and expand its support for indigenous defence manufacturers, citing the success of EIB as proof that Nigerian companies can match and even exceed the performance of foreign defence contractors.
