NEWS DETAILS: DICON SEEKS PARTNERSHIP WITH RMRDC FOR BASIC RAW MATERIALS SUPPLY

Following are the details of the news:

As part of efforts to address the shortfall in the supply of basic raw materials for the manufacture of military hardware and armaments occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) seeks partnership with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) for the supply of basic raw materials for the Military.

Making this declaration when he led a team of researchers from DICON on a working visit to the Director-General, RMRDC, Prof. Hussaini Doko Ibrahim in Abuja recently, the Director-General, DICON, Major General Victor Ezugwu, said a partnership with RMRDC was necessitated by the need to localize the sourcing of raw materials used in the manufacture of military hardware and armaments which have been dependent on importation.

He, said the pandemic has made it difficult to import the required raw materials for the manufacture of these items, thus leading to a depletion of the raw materials stock. He stated that now was the time to look inwards and identify critical stakeholders as partners to sustain the manufacture of equipment of war for the Nigerian military.

“we have woken up and we have started thinking Nigeria to produce whatever we need. The Pandemic can be said to be a blessing in disguise. Although it has made it difficult to continue to source our basic raw materials need outside, we are forced to look inwards today because we believe Nigeria has got all it takes to self-sustain in all sectors of production. That is why we have come to RMRDC that is the Centre point for raw materials sourcing, development and utilization”, the DICON DG said.

Responding, Prof. Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, DG RMRDC, said he was elated with the recognition accorded the Council by DICON, saying that RMRDC has always maintained a mutual relationship with DICON in the area of technology transfer and local sourcing of raw materials.

He said the Council was willing to partner with DICON to strengthen the supply of basic raw materials for manufacturing processes and would also collaborate in the area of backward integration for development of process equipment for the Defence industries.

He promised to partner DICON for value addition of raw materials. The team were later conducted round the Council’s Raw Materials Resource Centre.

Director-General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Professor Hussaini Doko Ibrahim (first from right) and Director-General, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Major General Victor Ezugwu (second from right) during a tour of the RMRDC Raw Materials Resource centre in Abuja.