Reps Push for Local Content in Defence Procurement

The House of Representatives Committee on Defence, chaired by Babajimi Benson, is pushing for the enforcement of the Federal Government’s local content policy to ensure that the Armed Forces and other government agencies prioritize indigenous manufacturers of military hardware. This initiative was announced on Tuesday in Abuja during the launch of the AEGIS-X 2.0, a light tactical armoured vehicle developed by X-Shield Solutions Company Limited.

Benson, represented by his Chief of Staff, Benjamin Ekeyi, emphasized the need for Nigeria to stop spending large sums on imported defence equipment that can be produced locally. He mentioned a presidential directive that mandates government agencies to prioritize locally manufactured products and expressed the committee's commitment to reviving this directive.

Ekeyi praised X-Shield Solutions for their local production efforts, stating that the AEGIS-X 2.0 is comparable to, and in some cases better than, imported alternatives. Charles Ibanga, Managing Director of X-Shield Solutions, described the vehicle's launch as a significant step towards Nigeria's defence industrialization and self-reliance.