Nigeria’s expenditure on imported arms and ammunition declined steeply in 2025, signalling a notable shift in the country’s defence procurement profile even as security challenges persist across several regions.
Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that arms imports dropped to about N49bn in 2025, a sharp contrast to the more than N520bn recorded in 2024. The data, drawn from the NBS foreign trade reports, indicate that imports were valued at N22.08bn in the first quarter of 2025, fell to N4.87bn in the second quarter, and rose again to N23.49bn in the third quarter.
The statistics were compiled from multiple sources, including the Nigeria Customs Service, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, oil and gas firms, private sector operators, as well as aviation and port authorities.
The scale of the decline becomes clearer when compared with the previous year. In 2024 alone, Nigeria spent over N520bn on arms and ammunition imports, with a striking N483.85bn of that amount concentrated in the fourth quarter. Historical trends also show fluctuating spending patterns: N127.16bn in 2023, N28.24bn in 2022, N72.50bn in 2021, and N29.24bn in 2020.
The sudden reduction has raised questions among security analysts, particularly against the backdrop of ongoing security threats nationwide. Security expert Chidi Omeje expressed surprise at the figures, noting that the intensity of insecurity would ordinarily suggest rising, not falling, arms imports.
He argued that the sophistication of weapons used by criminal groups points to a continued need for advanced military platforms by security agencies. According to him, Nigeria is still some distance away from full self-sufficiency in defence manufacturing.
“We have to continue importation until the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) can meet local needs. We have not reached a stage where Nigeria no longer requires arms imports,” Omeje said.
He also suggested that procurement cycles could partly explain the sharp drop, as defence acquisitions are often based on long-term contracts rather than year-by-year purchases. Orders placed in previous years, he noted, may still be in the delivery phase.
“Otherwise, the drop from N520bn to N49bn is too steep. There has to be an explanation,” he added.
Meanwhile, recent developments within Nigeria’s domestic defence industry may be contributing to the changing import profile. Last month, DICON unveiled the first batch of its locally manufactured DG-103 rifles, a move widely seen as a step toward reducing dependence on foreign arms suppliers.
In a statement issued in Kaduna, the Chief Executive Officer of DICON-D7G, Osman Chennar, said the rollout reflected growing capacity to meet national security needs with locally produced equipment. He disclosed that nearly 1,000 units of the DG-103 rifle had been assembled within two months of launching production, with all units meeting operational standards set by the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies.
The DG-103, produced in Kaduna, is an upgraded variant of the AK-103 rifle. Beyond small arms, Chennar said the company is targeting an annual production capacity of 60 million rounds of ammunition as part of a long-term plan to strengthen Nigeria’s defence self-sufficiency.
He also revealed plans to acquire a military jetty in Lagos by February 2026. The facility is expected to host production lines, warehouses, staff accommodation, and a shipyard for servicing and maintaining naval vessels.
According to Chennar, the expansion is designed not only to meet domestic needs but also to position Nigeria as a defence equipment exporter within Africa. He described the initiative as part of a broader strategy to reduce foreign reliance and enhance long-term national security readiness.
DICON-D7G is a joint venture between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria and D7G, an indigenous private defence technology firm. The partnership combines DICON’s institutional mandate with D7G’s technical expertise to deepen local defence production.
Despite the progress in local manufacturing, analysts caution that the sharp fall in imports is difficult to reconcile fully with Nigeria’s security realities. While increased domestic production may be easing some pressure on foreign procurement, experts note that DICON’s current output is still largely focused on light weapons, suggesting that imports may remain necessary for more advanced systems in the near term.