After Jigawa, fire guts NNPC mega station in Abuja

One week after fire wreaked havoc at a mega station of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Dutse, Jiwa state capital, a similar incident occurred at an NNPC station in the Central Business District of Abuja.

A member of staff at the mega station, who preferred anonymity, told NAN that the fire started around 10pm ‎when a tanker was discharging fuel to the tanks of the petrol station.

The source said thought no casualty was‎ recorded, some sections of the filling station were affected by the inferno, adding that the fact that the incident occurred during the weekend, reduced the risk of casualties and significant damage.

He said officers and men of the Federal Fire Service Abuja were on hand to tackle the fire and helped in preventing it from spreading to neighbouring buildings.

Some witnesses confirmed that the prompt response of the fire service helped the situation.

Yarima sani, a witness, said: “I was driving close with the intention to fill up my tank when we were asked to use a different road that there was fire at the station.

“I parked and trekked and I saw the fire service people were already there helping to quench the fire.”

He added that some security men helped in controlling traffic.

Collins Elechi, public relations officer, federal fire service Abuja, said the service received a distress call around 9:28pm and quickly deployed its men to the scene.

“Our fire fighters responded immediately to the fire outbreak on Sunday at the mega station,” he said.

“The quick intervention limited the loss to the vehicles alone.

“It could have been more devastating if it had happened in the day time, especially afternoon.”

He called on filling stations to be cautious while discharging petroleum products.

Photo Credit: The Nation