Nigeria is ramping up its reliance on domestically produced military technology—particularly drones—as it intensifies the battle against insurgents and bandits.
The shift toward locally made defense equipment is not only enhancing tactical capabilities on the front lines, but also helping to conserve foreign exchange by reducing dependence on imported hardware, according to Bright Echefu, Chairman of EIB Group, a Nigerian defense and security technology company.
Speaking during a media tour of the company’s drone manufacturing facility in Abuja, Echefu said Nigeria has the capability to defeat terrorism using homegrown military technology, including advanced drones which are now at the heart of security operations.
According to him, the Nigerian Armed Forces are increasingly relying on indigenous solutions to combat insurgency and banditry, with a major focus on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed and built entirely by Nigerians.
“Nigeria now has the capacity not to depend on any other country for its security, and that is 100%,” Echefu said. “With the amount of local companies investing heavily, Nigeria has capacity right now to end this insurgency.”
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EIB Group has developed a suite of tactical drones currently in use by the military, including the Damisa Combat Drone, a high-powered, VTOL fixed-wing UAV equipped with long-range surveillance, real-time communications, and precision targeting systems. Other models such as the Arginin and Xander reconnaissance drones are deployed in intelligence-gathering and surveillance operations.
According to Echefu, the technologies are proving critical in challenging terrains and night operations. “We use electro-optical devices that allow us to see things, even down into shrubs. We have thermal imaging equipment that can detect heat emissions from the body—so you can find someone even if they’re hiding in a house or underground.”
The EIB chairman credited recent federal government policies that prioritise indigenous firms for defense procurement contracts. “There are policies to assist indigenous companies. The federal government has made it mandatory that, before you start looking outside, look inwards,” he explained.
That approach, Echefu said, has helped reduce Nigeria’s reliance on foreign defense contractors. “Nigeria doesn’t import drones anymore. Even bombs are produced locally. We’ve been producing bullets for a long time, and we’ve started producing assault rifles too.”
EIB Group’s operations are entirely Nigerian-run, with no foreign personnel involved. “Everybody is a Nigerian. Most of the products we produce are made locally. We have serious patronage from the Nigerian military—and that’s just the reason why we are growing. They actually believe in what we’re doing,” he said.
The company currently employs more than 1,000 staff, most of whom are deployed in the field rather than in offices, and collaborates with troops on operations. Despite this growth, Echefu said the company is struggling to keep up with surging demand from the military and other agencies.
“The demand is too much and we do not have enough capacity to meet it. That’s the honest truth,” he said.
He added that beyond security gains, the local production of defense equipment is also delivering major economic benefits by saving foreign exchange.
“Most of the products that are made in Nigeria are sold in naira. Our services to the military have saved Nigeria a lot of foreign exchange,” Echefu said, though he did not give specific figures.
He noted that while EIB is not yet manufacturing aircraft, local aeronautical engineers now service all military planes domestically—a significant shift from previous years when such repairs were handled abroad.
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While the security situation in parts of the country remains fluid, Echefu insists the military has made significant gains that often go unreported. “It’s unfortunate that the military does not promote the successes they have recorded. If I tell you how many terrorists and bandits have been neutralized, you will be shocked,” he said.
He added that recent developments in neighboring Niger Republic have placed additional strain on Nigeria’s defense apparatus. “There was a jailbreak in Niger Republic. A lot of the elements from that side have migrated into Nigeria. So, the pressure on the Armed Forces is quite heavy—but they are doing extremely well right now.”
“We’ve lost a lot of soldiers trying to save this country. A lot has gone into it, and they are doing a whole lot. I am speaking from experience,” he added.
While EIB Group has benefitted from government support, Echefu urged that similar encouragement be extended to other local manufacturers.
“The path the government is following now—encouraging Nigerian companies to do what foreign companies used to do—must continue,” he said. “I know there are many other companies desiring patronage and support. I believe they should extend the same to them.”
