The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Richard Pheelangwa, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting indigenous defence manufacturers, while calling for sustained product quality and integrity checks, particularly for export-bound equipment.
Pheelangwa made this known on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, during a familiarisation visit to Equipment and Protective Applications International Limited (EPRIL) in Ogun State.
Commending the company for its contributions to Nigeria’s security architecture, the Permanent Secretary urged EPRIL to maintain high standards in the production of durable and reliable equipment for military formations within Nigeria and across the African region.
He noted that the Ministry of Defence has continued to demonstrate strong institutional support for the company, given its critical role in supporting military operations locally and internationally.
According to him, since assuming office, the ministry has facilitated key processes to enhance EPRIL’s operations, including the issuance of End User Certificates and the granting of tax exemptions by the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigeria Customs Service to ease the importation of essential raw materials.
Pheelangwa emphasized that continued collaboration with the ministry would require strict integrity and quality assurance checks on all equipment supplied to clients, especially those outside Nigeria.
He stressed that product quality and service delivery remain decisive factors in sustaining client confidence and patronage.
In his response, the Managing Director of EPRIL, Mr. Kola Balogun, expressed appreciation for the visit and the consistent support received from the ministry.
He pledged the company’s continued collaboration with the Ministry of Defence in all aspects of its operations.
EPRIL is an indigenous Nigerian defence company specializing in the production of military operational tools and security-related equipment. It is a key supplier to the Nigerian military and serves several international clients.
The Permanent Secretary also extended his familiarisation visit to Proforce Group Limited, also located in Ogun State.
He acknowledged the company’s steady growth into Nigeria’s first and only indigenous defence contractor specializing in the design and manufacture of armoured vehicles and security systems for land and naval applications.
Pheelangwa commended Proforce for its significant contributions to Nigeria’s security architecture and urged the company to continue producing robust and dependable defence solutions to support military operations in Nigeria and across Africa.
He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to supporting Proforce by facilitating access to End User Certificates and tax exemptions through relevant government agencies to ease the importation of raw materials required for its projects.
Pheelangwa further called for sustained collaboration between the company and the ministry.
The Managing Director of Proforce Group, Engr. Ade Ogundeyin, thanked the Ministry of Defence for the recognition and pledged the company’s continued partnership with the ministry in advancing Nigeria’s defence capabilities.