N804bn arms imports spark renewed calls for local production

Despite government efforts to expand domestic arms manufacturing, Nigeria continues to spend heavily on imported weapons, raising fresh concerns about foreign exchange depletion and overreliance on external suppliers for national security.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that between 2020 and the first half of 2025, Nigeria spent about ₦804 billion on arms and ammunition imports, including parts.

The figures reveal a sharp upward trajectory: ₦29.24 billion in 2020; ₦72.50 billion in 2021; ₦28.24 billion in 2022; and ₦127.16 billion in 2023. By 2024, the bill skyrocketed to ₦520.02 billion, the highest in five years.

This year, the trend has continued. In the first half of 2025 alone, Nigeria imported arms worth ₦26.95 billion, ₦22.08 billion in Q1 and ₦4.87 billion in Q2. That is more than double the ₦11.76 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.

A closer look at 2024 highlights the volatility. While just ₦11.76 billion was imported in the first half of the year, the second half saw a surge to ₦508.25 billion, driven by a record ₦483.85 billion in Q4 alone.

The rising import bill has renewed pressure on the federal government to strengthen local defence manufacturing. Industry experts argue that strategic partnerships between the Armed Forces and local producers could significantly reduce foreign exchange spending, enhance security self-sufficiency, and create jobs.

“Relying on foreign suppliers for basic defence needs is unsustainable. Building capacity at home will not only save FX but also improve national security resilience,” one defence analyst noted.

Stakeholders say Nigeria must prioritise investment in research, technology transfer, and partnerships with private-sector manufacturers to reverse the trend.