LSSTF Moves to Boost Local Security Manufacturing with EPAIL Nigeria Partnership

LSSTF Moves to Boost Local Security Manufacturing with EPAIL Nigeria Partnership

The Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) has advanced efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s indigenous security manufacturing sector following a strategic engagement with Equipment and Protective Applications International Limited (EPAIL Nigeria), a leading homegrown defence and security technology firm.

The high-level meeting, attended by LSSTF Executive Secretary/CEO Dr. Ayo Ogunsan and Director of Administration Adegbola Lewis, alongside EPAIL Chairman/CEO Kola Balogun and Director of Engineering Olabisi AVM (retd), took place at the company’s production facility along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.

Discussions focused on forging a strategic procurement partnership aimed at supplying high-grade security hardware and protective gear to security operatives across Lagos State. The proposed collaboration underscores a deliberate policy shift by LSSTF toward local content development and import substitution within Nigeria’s security value chain.

Speaking during the visit, Ogunsan stressed the importance of leveraging indigenous capacity, noting that local production offers faster delivery, customization to Nigeria’s operational realities, and long-term sustainability of security investments.

“Leveraging local expertise is not only economically prudent but strategically imperative,” he said, adding that sourcing top-quality security equipment locally would enhance efficiency while supporting the national economy.

Founded in 2014, EPAIL Nigeria is widely regarded as a pioneer in Nigeria’s ballistic manufacturing space, producing bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets, and other defence-grade equipment. The company also operates a strong research and development arm focused on advancing indigenous security technologies, with services spanning risk assessment and infrastructure protection across all 36 states.

Its portfolio includes personal protective equipment, surveillance systems, and advanced security solutions tailored to both public and private sector needs, positioning the firm as a key player in Nigeria’s growing defence industrial ecosystem.

The engagement highlights a broader alignment between security enhancement and economic development, reinforcing the role of local manufacturing as a driver of national resilience, job creation, and industrial growth.