The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has confirmed that the explosion today at its arms manufacturing factory in Kaduna State was caused by expired materials for production which have exceeded their lifespans, including a large quantity of Ammonia Nitrates, Primer Caps, Propellants and others.

In a statement signed by DICON PRO Maria Sambo, on behalf of the director-general, said that the Saturday explosion occurred at DICON Ordnance Factory Disposal pit, killed one person and injured others.

According to the statement, some old storage bunkers used to store Raw Materials for production contained several expired raw materials for arms production.

It said that DICON had earlier initiated efforts since July 2025 to ensure the controlled disposal of these expired items and successfully destroyed all the Ammonia Nitrates and the majority of other items.

However, the unfortunate accident of the explosion occurred while specialists were concluding the destruction of the remaining quantity of the expired items at the disposal pit on Saturday, 20 September 2025.

The injured DICON staff are currently receiving treatment at 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, while the body of the deceased Personnel has been deposited at the mortuary.

While commiserating with staff, families and friends of the deceased and wishing the injured a quick recovery, DICON assures the general public that the unfortunate incident is under control and there is no need for panic.

The neighbouring community is assured that DICON, as a responsible professional organisation, has institutionalised operational safety to the highest level, and they can go about their normal business. The remaining materials have been made safe.

Accordingly, a Board of Inquiry has been instituted to unravel the immediate cause of the unfortunate incident.

​The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) vehemently condemns the harassment and unlawful arrests of journalists, including Ms. Azuka Ogujiuba and Mr. Nasir Hassan Yelwa, by the police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ekiti, and other parts of the country.

​These actions by the police are a blatant abuse of power and a dangerous threat to our democracy.

Journalists are not criminals; they are professionals with a constitutional mandate to inform the public and hold those in authority accountable.

The continuous targeting of journalists by security operatives is unacceptable and must stop immediately.
​The NUJ demands the immediate and unconditional release of all detained journalists.

We call on the Inspector General of Police to swiftly investigate these disturbing incidents and hold those responsible for these unlawful acts accountable.

Democracy cannot survive when the press is intimidated, harassed, or treated as an enemy of the state.
​We want to make it clear that any further assault on the media will be met with strong resistance.

The NUJ will mobilize its members nationwide and seek international solidarity to protect press freedom and the rights of journalists in Nigeria.
​

The Union stands firm in its commitment to defend democracy, uphold press freedom, and guarantee the safety of all media practitioners. An injury to one journalist is an injury to all.

​Alhassan Yahya
President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)

The Lagos State Government on Thursday directed the immediate suspension of all reclamation projects across the state with or without Environmental Impact Assessment EIA approval and drainage clearance.

The directive was given in a statement signed by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab.

According to him, all approved Reclamation Projects across the State must be submitted for proper Documentation and Monitoring, while all on-going and intending ones must be subjected to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process with issuance of Approval and Drainage Clearance from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.

He warned that failure to comply with this directive within the next 7 DAYS will leave the Ministry with no other option than to deploy appropriate machineries to decommission the reclaimed sites including excavation and removal of fill and reconnecting of already blocked water channels on the Lagoon amongst others.

Wahab also warned that the State government will effect the arrest and prosecution of anyone involved and or are found on the site of such illegality after the expiration of the 7 days warning.

He expressed grave concern about the proliferation of reclamation activities on Wetlands, Floodplains and the Lagoons across the State.

He identified locations where such acts are prevalent to include Parkview, Banana Island, Osborne, other parts of Ikoyi, Victoria Island Extension, Lekki, Ajah, Ikorodu, Oworonshoki, Lagos Mainland, Ojo and Badagry axis, without consideration of the adverse impacts on the environment and the wellbeing and safety of the good people of the State.

The Commissioner stressed that indiscriminate reclamation projects are being executed without requisite Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Approvals and Drainage Clearance from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.

He emphasised that while reclamation may provide space for Housing and Infrastructure redevelopment, it also poses significant Environmental and Social risks including increased vulnerability to flooding, coastal erosion, disruption of livelihood (especially fishing), loss of wetlands and biodiversity, constriction of the Lagoons and their capacity, impairment of water quality amongst others.

He stated that with the low-lying topography of Lagos State and its fragile ecosystem, the State Government cannot afford to allow this indiscriminate reclamation of the Lagoons, Wetlands and floodplains to continue unabated.

Signed Kunle AdeshinaDirector of Public AffairsMOE&WRSeptember 18, 2025