TheCable

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), a parastatal under the ministry of defence has partnered with the Equipment Protective Applications International Limited (EPAIL), for the production of equipment.

This was disclosed during a visit by DICON leadership team headed by the Bamidele Ogunkale, its director-general, to EPAIL facility located at Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Ogun state.

EPAIL is an affiliate of MOMMAS group of companies responsible for the provision of security solutions to essential assets and infrastructure nationwide.

According to a statement, the partnership will see to the production of equipment including ballistic vests, ballistic helmets among other defence related equipment or items.

Both parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) after the meeting.

According to the joint venture agreement signed by both parties, the arrangement would ensure local manufacture and production of critical military items and defence related equipment as well as transfer of technologies especially in the areas of tool and tooling production which would be needed by the Nigerian military and other security agencies.

Ogunkale said the two companies would complement each other by combining technical know-how with the facility with a view to ensure all the essential defence related equipment are readily made available locally thereby removing a lot of encumbrances associated with importing security equipment into the country.

“We are impressed with what we have seen so far particularly with the level of investment in the facility and the fact that it is an indigenous company. In fact, we are proud to be associated with this company as it has given us opportunity to look inward to address the issue of insufficient military hardware,” Ogunkale said.

“We are happy to be here and glad that you have the space and the facility. Although the joint venture agreement may not be as deep as you would think, we are hoping that going forward it would expand.

“For us, we are excited to kick start the agreement as soon as possible. More so, we are glad that EPAIL is ready to provide certification and verification for the security equipment. We believe our partnership with you would be a win-win situation.

“As we speak, some other paramilitary forces such as Civil Defence, Immigration are making great demand for some of the essential defence related items.

“So, the challenge for us is to meet such increasing demand. I just hope that you as our partner do not delay in providing the essential security items.”