Nigeria rolls out locally made armoured carriers as army ramps up defence capabilities

 

The Nigerian Army has taken delivery of a new batch of armoured personnel carriers, combining locally manufactured platforms with foreign-supplied vehicles, in a move that underscores the country’s growing ambitions in defence production and its continued reliance on international partnerships.

More than half a dozen Vanquisher light armoured personnel carriers, produced by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria in collaboration with Vanquish Industries Limited, were delivered alongside dozens of Dagger APCs from French defence firm Arquus.

According to Defence Web, a total of 15 Vanquisher vehicles were formally handed over on March 4, marking what military officials described as a key milestone in Nigeria’s drive toward self-reliance in military hardware.

Built on a modified Toyota Land Cruiser platform and equipped with mounted weapon systems, the vehicles are tailored for Nigeria’s operational terrain, particularly in counter-insurgency missions.

Speaking at the handover, Major General Bamidele Alabi, Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), emphasized that indigenous defence innovation remains critical to achieving combat readiness and operational superiority.

He noted that locally developed platforms such as the Vanquisher are designed to address Nigeria’s unique security challenges while strengthening rapid response capabilities.

Nigeria’s investment in domestic defence manufacturing comes at a time when the country is battling persistent security threats, including insurgency in the northeast and banditry in other regions.

By expanding local production capacity, authorities aim to reduce reliance on imports, cut costs, and retain capital within the economy.

At the same time, the acquisition of Dagger APCs from France highlights Abuja’s pragmatic approach, combining homegrown innovation with international support to quickly scale its military capabilities.

The 4×4 Dagger weighs 5.5 tonnes and is designed for mobility in urban and complex environments. Powered by a 170 hp diesel engine, it can reach speeds of up to 110 km/h with a range of 800 km.

It carries two crew members and six troops, and can be fitted with either a pintle-mounted or remotely operated 7.62 mm machine gun. Over 1,200 units have been produced for countries including France, Chile, Romania, and Togo

Director-General of DICON, Major General BI Alaya, credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the expansion of Nigeria’s military-industrial base, describing the development as central to national sovereignty and long-term security.

Analysts say Nigeria’s dual-track strategy which involves building local manufacturing while maintaining foreign defence ties, positions it as an emerging player in Africa’s defence industry.

If sustained, this approach could not only strengthen national security but also open opportunities for Nigeria to supply military hardware to other African nations facing similar threats.

By Solomon Ekanem, Business Insider Africa

Demand surges in Nigeria for new HIV prevention injection ahead of rollout

Interest is rising across Nigeria in a new long-acting HIV prevention injection, even before its full nationwide rollout.

Health workers and community organisations say people are actively seeking access to Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable drug designed to prevent HIV infection. The treatment, developed by Gilead Sciences and endorsed by the World Health Organisation in 2025, offers an alternative to daily preventive pills.

Nigeria’s government has begun introducing the drug in selected pilot states, with an official launch expected this week. Authorities say more than 11,000 doses have already been delivered, out of a planned 52,000.

The rollout will initially cover several states, including Lagos, Kano and Benue, as well as the federal capital, Abuja. The injection will be administered free of charge at designated public health facilities, not through private pharmacies.

High demand-and confusion

Civil society groups and frontline health workers report strong demand, particularly among people at higher risk of HIV exposure, including couples where one partner is HIV-positive.

However, some organisations say there is widespread misunderstanding about the drug. Many people believe it can cure HIV, when in fact it is only designed to prevent infection in those who are HIV-negative.

“People are asking for it even before it becomes widely available, but some think it’s a treatment rather than prevention,” one health worker said.

Nigeria has one of the largest HIV burdens globally, with around two million people living with the virus, according to recent estimates.

Caution from experts

Medical professionals have welcomed the innovation but stress the need for careful rollout. Pharmacists and regulators say the drug must undergo strict safety and quality checks before broader distribution.

Authorities have also issued guidance on its use, noting that it is currently approved only for non-pregnant individuals.

Despite these concerns, public health advocates say early adoption could help reduce new infections, especially among high-risk groups, if awareness improves and access expands nationwide.

Africa News

Related story: US withdrawal from WHO puts strain on Nigeria’s health budget

Blackouts drive more Nigerians off-grid as solar demand booms

When the lights went out for the third time in a week at his Lagos textile factory, Emeka Okafor did not wait for the utility company to restore power. He called a solar installer instead.

“Diesel was eating us alive. The grid gives us maybe five hours a day if we’re lucky,” said Okafor, whose factory now runs almost entirely on a rooftop solar array paired with battery storage. “We haven’t looked back.”

His story is being replicated across Nigeria at a scale that is fundamentally redrawing the country’s energy map. Nigeria installed 803 megawatts of new solar capacity in 2025, a year-on-year surge of 141 percent, making it Africa’s second-largest solar market.

The driving force is not government ambition or climate policy; it is the chronic, grinding failure of the national grid.

Over the past decade, Nigeria’s power grid has suffered nearly 140 recorded malfunctions, with some areas receiving reliable electricity for only five to six hours per day. In the first two months of 2026 alone, the national grid collapsed twice. For households and businesses running Africa’s largest economy, patience has finally run out.

Off-grid installations, private mini-grids, solar home systems, and commercial rooftop arrays, account for roughly 1.15 gigawatts, or about 96 percent of Nigeria’s total installed solar capacity.

The Nigeria renewable energy and solar off-grid market is now valued at approximately $2.5 billion, driven by persistent grid unreliability, declining costs of solar and storage technologies, and surging private sector investment.

Key urban centers are leading the charge. Lagos, as the country’s commercial hub, has seen a surge in distributed solar installations, while Abuja’s policy environment and government-backed programs have fostered investment in renewable energy.

Battery storage is scaling even faster than the panels themselves. Installed battery capacity increased from around 10 megawatt-hours to 40.6 megawatt-hours in a single year, a rise of about 305 percent. Analysts note that those figures are likely understated because most projects are behind the meter and go untracked in official data.
Economics Tipping Against Diesel

The financial calculus has shifted decisively. Commercial and industrial users who adopt on-site renewables are achieving savings of 20 to 30 percent compared to diesel self-generation. With diesel costs running above $0.30 per kilowatt-hour, manufacturers in Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt are locking in 20-year power purchase agreements at fixed tariffs well below that threshold.

Nigeria’s extensive solar resource, delivering 4.5 to 6.5 kilowatt-hours per square meter per day, produces capacity factors 40 to 60 percent higher than those of many European sites, amplifying the economic case. Global module price declines have further compressed costs, bringing grid-parity economics to Nigeria’s sun-rich northern states.

Pay-as-you-go financing models are extending solar access to smaller firms and households, with payback periods now as short as three to five years.

Legislation is beginning to align with market realities. The 2023 Electricity Act decentralises market oversight and allows states to define their own feed-in tariffs tailored to local conditions, while seven-year tax holidays tilt project economics further in favor of renewables.

Nigeria’s renewable energy market is projected to grow from 3.13 gigawatts in 2024 to 5.01 gigawatts by 2029, at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 10 percent. More bullish forecasts place total installed capacity at 14.07 gigawatts by 2031, implying a compounded annual growth rate of more than 25 percent.

Nigeria already accounts for nearly 80 percent of West Africa’s solar additions. Under base-case projections, the wider region could add a cumulative 4.9 gigawatts between 2026 and 2029, cementing West Africa’s emergence as a major frontier solar market.

The rush off-grid carries a paradox. As wealthier households and businesses defect, the utility base that might fund grid repairs shrinks further, accelerating the very cycle of decline that drove them away in the first place.

The Nigerian government has announced an annual investment of $600 million in electricity subsidies between 2025 and 2027, aimed at bridging the gap between cost-reflective prices and regulated tariffs. Whether that is enough to reverse decades of underinvestment remains deeply uncertain.

By Oladehinde Oladipo, Business Day 

Related story: Gas-rich Nigeria faces blackouts amid five-year high flaring

Gas Leaks Trigger Health Emergency in Bille Nigeria

Thousands of residents in Bille, a fishing community in Rivers State in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, are facing a serious health emergency. Since October 2025, methane gas has been bubbling up in nearby rivers, swamps, and drinking wells. As a result, the contamination threatens both water sources and public health.

In December 2025, the Nigerian government stated that it had conducted an investigation. However, authorities have not shared the findings with the community and have not taken action to stop the leaks.

Nigerian authorities must urgently complete a transparent investigation, stop the gas leaks, and take immediate steps to protect residents from further harm.

Gas leaks spread across Bille community

Residents first reported the gas leaks in October 2025, when fishermen noticed bubbling water and a strong sulphurous smell in nearby swamps and rivers. Within a week, more residents reported similar leaks at multiple locations, including inside the town. The leaks continue to this day.

As a result, many people believe their drinking water has been contaminated. Several residents have reported illness. In addition, some children became sick and started vomiting, forcing a school to relocate them for safety.

Lack of action and transparency

In December 2025, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency carried out air quality tests at several sites. At one location, methane levels were recorded at 10,000 times higher than normal background levels. However, authorities have not published the full findings.

Despite the severity of the situation, the government has not taken effective steps to stop the leaks or protect public health. This lack of transparency and action continues to put residents at risk.

Environmental damage and government responsibility

Communities in the Niger Delta, including Bille, have long lived with pollution from oil operations. In many cases, oil companies have failed to properly clean up contaminated land. As a result, residents continue to face serious risks to their health and environment.

The Nigerian government has a duty to protect people from these harms, including those linked to private actors such as oil companies. Previous research has raised concerns about the condition of oil infrastructure and its impact on human rights, including the right to health and a safe environment.

Amnesty International has supported Bille and the nearby community of Ogale for more than a decade. Both communities have faced widespread environmental damage from oil spills, which destroyed livelihoods and left thousands without access to clean water. Their legal case against Shell is ongoing, with a trial expected in 2027.

At the same time, methane leaks contribute significantly to global warming. Therefore, the Nigerian government should also take steps to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and meet its international climate obligations.

Amnesty International

Northern Nigeria on edge following series of attacks

A renewed wave of attacks in northern Nigeria, including suspected suicide bombings targeting crowded public places, has heightened tensions. At least 20 people have been killed and more than 100 others injured by militia in Borno State. The violence has also raised fresh security concerns ahead of Nigeria’s next general elections, with analysts warning it could depress voter turnout in the northeast, where displacement and fear remain widespread.

CGTN Africa