The Nigerian Army on Thursday unveiled
Nigeria’s first locally made explosive
detonator, known as Rechargeable Blasting
Device.
The device is a potable electrical system
adaptable to wet and dry conditions.
The unveiling and testing of the device was
part of the programme of the 2016 Chief of
Army Staff First Quarter Conference, held
in Abuja.
Maj.-Gen. Gabriel Ode, the Deputy
Commandant of the National Defence
College and brain behind the innovation
said the device was a product of research by
the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers.
In his explanation shortly before the testing
of the device, Ode said the device could be
used for demolition of Improvised Explosive
Devices (IEDs) and unexploded bombs.
He said that research on the production of
the equipment lasted for four months,
explaining that all materials used were
sourced locally.
The deputy commandant said the equipment
would be useful in the ongoing clearance
operations in the North-East, especially in
the removal of planted IEDs and unexploded
bombs in liberated areas.
“The production of this device is based
solely on researches conducted by Nigerian
Army engineers and from scratch to finish,
the materials were sourced locally.
“The average cost of producing one unit of
the device is N140, 000 as against N700, 000
required to import same from abroad.
“The importance of the device cannot be
over-emphasised because before now, what
was used in demolition of explosives was no
longer useful.
“We can use this one in our operations in
the North-East and the use of key switches
makes it quite unique,’’ he said.
Ode said there were other innovative works
that Army engineers were working on
which he added would improve the
efficiency of the army’s operations within
and outside the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports
that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur
Buratai, and other participants at the
conference witnessed the testing of the
device.
