Babajimi Benson In a defining moment for Nigeria’s national security and economic future, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s signing of the Defense Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act 2023 marks the dawn of a new era. As the legislator who sponsored this bill in the National Assembly, I have seen firsthand how this reform transforms DICON from a relic of our post-independence history into a vital pillar of a dynamic military-industrial complex poised to attract both domestic and international investment. Since its founding in 1964 as a modest ordnance factory manufacturing rifles, submachine guns, and ammunition for domestic use, DICON has faced limitations that hindered its growth. The new legislation grants it the authority to serve a dual role: as a manufacturer and a regulator. ...