The Federal Government has inaugurated a committee to investigate the explosion that occurred at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria facility in Kaduna State on Saturday.
At least two people, including a military officer, lost their lives while four others sustained injuries when the blast rocked the corporation’s factory in the Kurmin Gwari area of Kaduna metropolis.
Confirming the development, security analyst and Managing Director of Beacon Security and Intelligence Ltd., Kabir Adamu, said on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday that the committee’s task is to unravel the cause of the incident.
“The explosion was worrisome. The President had just visited Kaduna, and the next thing we heard was that there was an explosion after he left. Naturally, the first suspicion was whether it was sabotage or a security threat,” Adamu said.
“For now, there is no indication that it was sabotage. The government’s swift response has been commendable, but a panel has been set up to look into what really happened.”
DICON spokesperson, Maria Sambo, explained that the explosion occurred during the final phase of a controlled destruction exercise involving expired explosives and other hazardous materials such as ammonium nitrate, primer caps, and propellants.
She added that the situation had since been brought under control.
Adamu, however, argued that the tragedy could have been avoided with stricter safety measures.
“This explosion could have been prevented. These are materials that are used in weapon production, and any slight error in handling them can be disastrous.
“The standards for collecting, storing, and disposing of such items are still weak, and those gaps need to be addressed,” he said.
He urged Nigerians not to draw conclusions until the investigative committee submits its report.
“Until the committee comes out with a clear report, it will be foolhardy to reach a conclusion. Let’s wait for them,” he cautioned.
The incident has drawn parallels with the Ikeja cantonment explosion of 2002, though the Kaduna blast recorded fewer casualties.
Adamu also noted that the administration’s drive to boost local weapons production through DICON was laudable but must be matched with improved safety protocols.
“The ambition to increase local arms production by 40 per cent is commendable. It will save Nigeria money spent on imports and even open up export opportunities. But the safety standards in production and disposal processes must be upgraded to prevent tragedies like this,” he added.
