By Nkechi Eze
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has visited the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) facility in Kaduna following an ordnance explosion that occurred on the morning of Saturday, September 20, 2025.
According to a statement signed by the Principal Superintendent of Press, Pat Ituke, the Minister expressed concern over the incident but assured that the situation was fully under control, describing it as an accident.
During his visit, Dr. Matawalle was briefed on the immediate cause of the explosion and the response measures taken by experts on the ground. Preliminary reports indicated that the blast occurred while specialists were concluding the destruction of expired materials, including ammonium nitrate, primer caps, propellants, and other hazardous substances.
The Minister was assured that the incident had been contained and that DICON continues to operate strictly within established safety protocols. He further disclosed that a thorough investigation would be carried out to determine the exact cause of the explosion and to recommend measures to forestall a recurrence.
Dr. Matawalle also pledged government’s support to personnel affected by the incident and their families. “Appropriate support will be provided to affected personnel and their families,” he said.
