The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has strongly denied allegations that certain staff were deliberately excluded from its 2024 promotion list.

The claims, made by an online media outlet, suggested that the exclusion was a result of staff participation in an April protest.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Kaduna, DICON’s Deputy Director of Information and Media, Maj. Haruna Sani, dismissed the accusations as “misleading” and called for them to be disregarded.

“The management of DICON has taken note of the unfounded allegations published against the noble image of the corporation by an online media outlet on Oct. 14,” Sani said.

“These allegations alleged that DICON leadership directed the exclusion of certain DICON staff members from the 2024 promotion list due to their participation in a staff protest held in April,” he added.

Sani emphasised that DICON operates under strict adherence to Public Service Regulations, with promotion decisions handled by independent committees composed of civilian members.

“The DG and DICON management only approve recommendations made by these committees based on objective assessments,” he noted.

He further clarified that DICON has no role in the enrollment of staff into the Integrated Personnel Payroll System (IPPIS), which falls under the Federal Government’s purview.

“The current DG did not invent these existing systems on assumption of office but has ensured that allowances due to DICON staff are paid,” Sani explained.

Addressing accusations of tribalism against the Director-General, Sani described them as “wholly unfounded.”

He pointed out that the DG’s personal staff and aides come from diverse states across Nigeria, including Oyo, Kebbi, Kogi, and Plateau, with none from Akwa Ibom.

“This diverse representation indicates a commitment to competence, inclusivity, and fairness, for which the DG DICON is widely known,” Sani added.

Regarding the exclusion of 46 staff from this year’s promotion list, Sani revealed that these individuals had been disciplined for absenteeism and violations of the DICON Act 2023.

“These personnel were absent for over two weeks without valid justification,” he said, adding that some of them admitted to participating in the April strike.

Sani also dismissed allegations that a factory fire on the eve of the March 2023 protest was orchestrated to distract from staff grievances as “utterly ludicrous.”

“No sensible individual would risk compromising an establishment that employs over 800 people,” he remarked.

On the matter of unpaid 2019 minimum wage arrears and promotion arrears, Sani stressed that these issues are the responsibility of the Federal Government, and DICON has submitted all required documentation for approval.

He concluded by urging DICON staff to remain disciplined and committed to the corporation’s objectives, while advising the media to verify claims before publication.

“DICON staff are encouraged to renew their commitment and collaboration in achieving DICON’s objectives,” Sani said.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, says training remains the best welfare that can be given to any soldier in ensuring results in areas of operations.

Lagbaja said this on Friday at the graduation ceremony of 585 Special Forces of Exercise Restore Hope VII, at the Nigerian Army Training Camp in Kachia, Kaduna State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Special Forces comprised of 571 soldiers and 14 officers.

Lagbaja, represented by the Chief of Training, Army Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Sani Muhammad, said that was why it was encapsulated in his command philosophy as a major area that must continue to be improved upon.

He described the demonstration of weapon handling, targets, team work and combat readiness of the soldiers as commendable.

Lagbaja said it was targeted at operational efforts put in place from the soldiers’ commencement of training in the depot.

“After coming out recently, we were able to bring them here and mould them properly again.

“The obstacles we observed in the field are skillfully addressed and maneuvered here by our gallant soldiers,” he said.

The Army chief, further said, “As the soldiers move out to the field, they become better trained and equipped.

“This will translate to better performance of the troops across all theaters of operations in the country.”

Issuing warning to adversaries, Lagbaja emphasised that the troops’ morale was very high, adding, “they will sustain the tempo of successes across all theaters of operations in the country.

“The Nigerian Army is happy with the support it is getting from the Federal Government and particularly Nigerians.

“They are now embracing the ‘whole-society approach’ in handling insurgency as it will continue to yield better results.”

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has emphasized that a multi-dimensional strategy, beyond military intervention, is essential to addressing the insecurity plaguing the Sahel region.

Speaking at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Inaugural Annual International Lecture in Abuja, Musa highlighted the growing instability in the Sahel, describing it as a significant threat to Nigeria due to the nation’s strategic role in the region.

“Insecurity did not emerge in a vacuum,” he stated, attributing its rise to a combination of local and global factors such as poor governance, economic marginalization, climate change, and ethnic tensions. He also pointed to the collapse of the Libyan state in 2011, which led to an influx of weapons and fighters, further fueling the rise of insurgent groups.

Musa noted that the insurgency in Nigeria’s North East, led by Boko Haram since 2009, has stretched military resources, displaced millions, and hindered economic development. He warned that the porous borders between Nigeria and Sahelian countries enable transnational criminal activities, including arms smuggling and human trafficking.

“Nigeria, as a critical player in the region, has borne a significant share of the fallout from this instability,” he said.

The CDS urged all stakeholders—government, civil society, international partners, and the private sector—to collaborate in addressing these challenges. “Let us always remember that Nigeria’s security and that of the entire Sahel region depend on our ability to find lasting solutions that promote peace, stability, and prosperity for all,” Musa concluded.

The lecture, themed “Insecurity in the Sahel (2008-2024): Dissecting Nigeria’s Challenges – Genesis, Impacts, and Options,” was organized by NAN as part of efforts to address the region’s security concerns.