A fire outbreak at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Awka, Anambra State, has destroyed parts of a pharmaceutical office and an adjoining store occupied by staff of Corixus of Nigeria, while property estimated at over N200 billion was reportedly saved from the inferno.
The fire, which occurred on Tuesday evening, was contained through the prompt intervention of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Anambra State Fire Service before it could spread to other offices within the complex.
The affected facilities are occupied by staff of Corixus of Nigeria, a pharmaceutical company operating within the Federal Secretariat.
In a statement issued by the Anambra State Command of the NSCDC through its Head of Media and Tactical Operations, Edwin Okadigbo, the Corps said its Disaster Management Team responded swiftly after receiving a distress call about the outbreak.
The team, working in collaboration with personnel of the Anambra State Fire Service, succeeded in bringing the fire under control and preventing it from spreading to other sections of the Secretariat.
The NSCDC said the timely intervention saved property estimated at more than N200 billion from destruction.
The NSCDC State Commandant, Maku Olatunde, said the prompt response to the incident demonstrated the Corps’ commitment to protecting critical national, state and local government assets and infrastructure across Anambra State.
He commended members of the Disaster Management Team for their gallantry and effective coordination with the State Fire Service in containing the incident.
The Commandant further urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to prioritise preventive safety measures, including regular electrical inspections and strict compliance with established fire safety standards, Okadigbo said.
READ ALSO: Kano, Dangote Foundation Sign 20-Year Deal to Revamp Skills Centre
Speaking with journalists, the State Fire Chief, Engr. Emmanuel Chiketa, said the actual cause of the fire was still under investigation as of the time of filing this report.
Chiketa urged residents, government agencies and organisations to conduct regular electrical audits and strictly observe fire and electrical safety protocols to minimise the risk of fire outbreaks.
According to him, adherence to such safety protocols is important at all times, as fires can occur regardless of the season.
“As you know, we are in the rainy season and this fire occurred. So, our people must learn to adhere to safety advisories so that we can minimise the risk of fire outbreaks.
“Also, homes and offices must have fire extinguishers at all times. Fire starts small, and if we can fight it before it escalates, we would not have major disasters or damage whenever fire occurs because we would have nipped the problem in the bud early,” he advised.
Chiketa further called on members of the public to promptly alert the fire service whenever they notice a fire outbreak to enable firefighters to respond before the situation escalates.
Meanwhile, normalcy has returned to the Federal Secretariat Complex, while investigations into the incident continue.
