Inspector-General
of Police, Ibrahim Idris has lauded the potential of Nigeria in
becoming the world’s defence systems solution hub following her capacity
to produce high-grade security merchandise locally. Idris made the
remark during a tour of ProForce Armour and Ammunitions Production
Facility, a defence systems and gadgets provider, on Friday in Ode-Remo,
Ogun state.
According to him, the facility provides armoured
personnel carriers, ammunitions, ballistic helmets, bullet-proof vests,
armoured cash-in-transit and personal protection vehicles. Idris who
lauded the level of expertise, added that the nation’s poise for rapid
development could only materialise through adequate support for local
manufacturing. He said that Nigeria could save a lot in terms of foreign
exchange with internally purchased merchandise in equipping the
nation’s security outfits in their fight against crime.
His
words: “To be honest with you, I have seen first-hand what Nigerians can
offer with the right support. Here, you can see local content
development in practice. “I think it’s a great achievement for us as a
country when we start venturing into presumed impossible feats and
turning them into possibilities. “Technologically, Nigerians have the
know-how and capacity to compete with the best when it comes to
manufacturing. “It’s an advantage to us when we see avenues such as
these we can exploit to bridge the gap of development and unemployment.
“For the police, we will continue to support such ventures by exploring
local content opportunities of improving the force ability to address
security issues and create employment. ”
Meanwhile, the Ogun
State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Bimbo Ashiru said that
it was important for government to always create an environment for
local manufacturing to thrive. According to him, the best way of
spreading wealth and reducing social strife was by creating jobs through
local content development.
He, however urged manufacturers to
focus more on backward integration through raw materials in-sourcing to
improve the production value-chain by empowering local suppliers. He
said: “What has happened in Ode-Remo has put this place on the map in
terms of capacity and wealth creation. “By the time we produce our steel
and glass then we have achieved up to about 70 to 80 percent of our
technology,” Ogundeyin said. ProForce was established in 2008 and prides
itself as the only private armoured vehicle manufacturer in Nigeria
specialising in armoured vehicles and personal protection. As a total
defence solution provider, the company focuses on the delivery of
confidence in protective mobility.
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