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Nigeria imported arms and ammunition worth over N520bn in 2024, The PUNCH has learnt.
According to the Q4 2024 trade statistics report released by the National Bureau of Statistics on March 7, 2025, the country spent N777.1bn on arms and ammunition importation between 2020 and 2024.
The data for the report was sourced from the Nigeria Customs Service (through the Integrated Customs Information System), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, various companies in the upstream and downstream oil sectors, the Central Bank of Nigeria, Angila International Limited, Neroli Technologies Limited, Gojopal Nigeria Limited, Carmine Assayer Limited, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, and the Nigerian Ports Authority, among others.
A breakdown of the figures shows that more money was spent on arms and ammunition imports in 2024 than in any other year within the four-year period.
While a total of N520bn was spent on arms importation in 2024 alone, a significant portion – N483.85bn – was spent between October and December 2024.
This increase comes despite claims by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawelle that Nigeria had begun exporting weapons to other African countries.
Speaking during the 60th anniversary of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria in August 2024, Matawalle stated, “Since we assumed leadership of the Ministry of Defence, we have been working tirelessly to ensure that DICON stands on its feet. Our goal is to enhance its capacity and capability so that we can produce our own armaments and attract more investors, particularly indigenous investors.
“Now, in many countries, not just governments but also private entities, are partnering with indigenous defence industries for the production of high-tech military hardware.
“We have the capability to produce, and as you know, many African countries are now turning to DICON for the procurement of arms and ammunition.”
He further noted that patronage by African nations could boost Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, create jobs for skilled Nigerians, and reduce capital flight.
Despite his claims that many African countries are buying weapons from Nigeria, the NBS report shows that Nigeria only exported arms and ammunition in 2021, with a total export value of N192.64m.
The report did not disclose the destination country or countries.
Further breakdown of the nation’s annual spending on arms and ammunition showed that in 2023, Nigeria spent N127.16bn on arms importation. In 2022, the country imported weapons worth N28.24bn, while in 2021, the figure stood at N72.50bn. In 2020, Nigeria spent N29.24bn on arms and ammunition imports.
