The Chairman/CEO of EPAIL Nigeria, Kola Balogun, says the company’s indigenous defence manufacturing capability is growing exponentially, with increasing interest from prospective African partners.
Balogun disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the just-concluded Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026.
He said the company was expanding its technological and manufacturing capacity, although it still had considerable ground to cover.
“We are not there yet, but we are growing exponentially.
“We are not growing arithmetically; we are growing exponentially in terms of our capabilities,” he said.
The EPAIL boss said the exhibition provided an opportunity for the company to showcase its manufacturing capabilities to local and international stakeholders.
He disclosed that representatives from Mali, Congo and other African countries visited the company’s factory to inspect its facilities and assess its manufacturing capabilities.
“Obviously, we are making inroads into other African markets.
“We received several foreign visitors during the exhibition, including people from Mali, Congo and other African countries. They visited our factory to inspect our facilities and assess what we are doing,” he said.
Balogun said the visits demonstrated growing interest in Nigeria’s indigenous defence manufacturing capacity and presented opportunities for wider continental partnerships.
He also disclosed that the exhibition provided an opportunity for senior military officials, including service chiefs, to visit EPAIL and assess its ongoing manufacturing activities.
According to him, such engagements are important for strengthening relationships between indigenous manufacturers and the military institutions expected to utilise locally produced equipment.
Balogun said the exhibition also exposed Nigerian manufacturers to emerging defence technologies, particularly digital and artificial intelligence-enabled equipment.
He said the experience had reinforced the need for local manufacturers to integrate more advanced technologies into their products.
“We have seen many modern defence technologies, particularly advanced digital and artificial intelligence-enabled equipment.
“This has shown us that we must step up our game by integrating more advanced technologies into the equipment we manufacture,” he said.
He described AFRIDEX 2026 as a significant opportunity for Nigerian manufacturers to benchmark their products against international standards and explore partnerships with foreign defence companies.
Balogun said Nigeria’s strategic position in Sub-Saharan Africa made it important for the country to develop a strong indigenous defence industry capable of supporting national security and contributing to regional requirements.
He urged the government to sustain support for local manufacturers through purposeful funding, research initiatives and policies that encourage indigenous production.
He also called for stronger regulation to ensure standards, accountability and responsible distribution of military equipment.
He emphasised that sustained investment in local manufacturing would help Nigeria strengthen its defence capabilities and expand opportunities for indigenous companies across Africa.
