Defence Ministry orders review of Kaduna DICON explosion, moves to bolster safety measures

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Sunday Attah, has called for a comprehensive review of the September 21, 2025 explosion at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) in Kaduna, stressing the need to strengthen safety procedures to forestall future incidents.

Dr. Attah made the call during an on-the-spot assessment of the explosion site on Thursday, September 25, in Kaduna. 

The visit followed mounting concerns over the tragic incident, which raised questions about safety standards at the country’s foremost defence production facility.

During the inspection, the Permanent Secretary urged staff of the corporation to remain committed to their duties and not allow the incident to dampen their morale. 

“This unfortunate incident must not weaken your resolve. Instead, it should strengthen our collective determination to ensure safer operations and uphold the critical mandate of this institution,” he said.

Briefing the visiting delegation, the Director-General of DICON, Major General B. I. Alaya, assured that the situation had been brought under control and that operations would continue in line with established safety protocols. 

He emphasized that measures were already being put in place to reinforce safety across the facility.

The Permanent Secretary was accompanied on the tour by senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, who joined him in assessing the extent of the damage and discussing possible reforms.

DICON, established in 1964, is Nigeria’s leading defence manufacturing outfit responsible for producing arms, ammunition, and other military equipment. 

The recent explosion has renewed public discourse on the need for stricter safety oversight in sensitive defence-related industries.