By Odita Sunday
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has urged Nigerian businesses to invest in young people and local defence manufacturing, saying the country’s security needs cannot be separated from its ability to develop homegrown skills and technology.
Shaibu made the call on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, during a visit to Equipment and Protective Applications International Limited (EPAIL) in Ogun State, where he praised the company for developing local talent and producing protective equipment for the military and other security agencies.
He said Nigeria’s youthful population could be a major force for tackling security challenges and driving economic growth if young people received the right training, mentorship and investment.
According to the Army Chief, supporting young Nigerians to develop their technical skills would not only create jobs but also encourage innovation and help build local solutions to the country’s security needs.
He stressed that Nigeria must strengthen its domestic defence industry to reduce dependence on imported equipment and ensure the Armed Forces can access technology suited to their changing operational requirements.
Shaibu said closer cooperation among the Nigerian Army, local defence manufacturers and private investors would help accelerate technological development, improve military effectiveness and strengthen the country’s capacity to protect its national interests.
The COAS commended EPAIL for its youthful and skilled workforce, noting that local production of protective equipment could improve troop safety while supporting industrial development.
He added that investment in indigenous manufacturing could deliver benefits beyond the military by expanding employment opportunities, promoting technical expertise and encouraging more innovation within the Nigerian economy.
Earlier, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EPAIL, Engineer Kola Balogun, praised Shaibu for sustaining pressure on criminal elements across the country.
Balogun said the company was capable of supplying protective equipment to troops and other security personnel, adding that its young workforce was developing products designed to meet the practical needs of security agencies.
He highlighted the contribution of the company’s employees to developing local solutions for the demands faced by personnel in the field.
The visit reflects the Nigerian Army’s growing emphasis on local defence production and youth development as part of efforts to strengthen national security.
It also reinforces the importance of partnerships between the military, indigenous manufacturers and private businesses in building local expertise, creating jobs and reducing reliance on foreign supplies.
The statement was issued on 28 October 2026 by APPOLONIA ANELE, Colonel, Acting Director Army Public Relations.
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