The Nation Newspaper

Tag: fire

  • Wizkid scrambles as fire erupts on AFRIMA stage

    Wizkid scrambles as fire erupts on AFRIMA stage

    Popular singer, Wizkid, on Sunday, ran for his life as a section of the All African Music Award (AFRIMA) stage caught fire. After being announced as the winner of the 2017 AFRIMA ‘Song of the year’, Wizkid climbed the stage to receive his award from singer 2Baba and DJ Jimmy Jatt but while presenting his speech, fire crackers on the stage had ignited part of the stage.

    “See fire, fire,” the Ojuelegba crooner was heard saying, interrupting his presentation and scrambling backstage for safety.

    The fire was however, put off by DJ Jimmy Jatt and some crew while 2Baba laughed as Wizkid was recalled.

    Wizkid then thanked 2Baba and DJ Jimmy Jatt.

    “I thank the two legends for their contributions to the African music industry as we are still learning from these two legend,” said Wizkid who emerged the biggest winner of the night, winning three major awards including Song of the Year, Artist of the Year (Come Closer) and Best West African male artiste.

    “Shout to all the legend in the house”

  • Fire guts Access bank’s ATM gallery

    Fire guts Access bank’s ATM gallery

    Inferno yesterday gutted an Access bank Automated Teller Machine (ATM) gallery at Ikotun, mainland Lagos.

    The fire, which was said to have started around 3:30pm, affected six ATM machines.

    It was gathered that the inferno was caused by heat that emanated from the battery powering the machines.

    Sources said it took efforts from officials of the Lagos State Fire Service to contain the outbreak.

    The bank confirmed the incident, adding that arrangements were being made for a forklift to pull down the gallery.

     

  • Father, three daughters killed in house fire

    Father, three daughters killed in house fire

    A man who died in a house fire in Northern Italy along with three of his four young daughters is suspected of murder-suicide, news reports said on Friday.

    The ANSA news agency said arson on the part of the father was suspected because rescuers found piled up material at the entrance of the flat, presumably used to start the fire.

    The blaze took place in Como, a lakeside city about 50 kilometres north of Milan.

    A spokesperson for the regional health authority told dpa that a 49-year-old man and three girls aged 3, 7 and 11 died in the fire, while the fourth one aged 5 was in critical condition.

    Fire safety officials on the scene said the family was unconscious when they arrived shortly after 8 am (0600 GMT).

    The sole survivor was given a heart massage for almost three hours, the health authority said.

    The family was from Morocco and was being followed by social services, ANSA said.

    The mother of the girls was not at home because she had recently checked into a clinic for mental health problems.

    Read Also: Millions gone as tanker fire razes Abia community

  • Chevron donates $500,000 to California fire victims

    Chevron donates $500,000 to California fire victims

    Chevron has donated $500,000 to the American Red Cross in support of  vitims of the wildfires in Northern and Southern California.

    “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and the devastation caused by the wildfires in our home state,” said Mike Wirth, vice chairman, Chevron.

    “Our thoughts are with all those affected by the fires and the first responders working to contain them.”

    “Based in California for over a century, Chevron is committed to working with local communities as they recover from the fires.

    The oil gaint said it would match any donations made to wildfire relief efforts by its employees and retirees.

  • Fire in JEDC power plant throws Jos into darkness 

    Fire in JEDC power plant throws Jos into darkness 

    The Plateau State capital and its environs have been thrown into darkness following an outbreak of fire at an electricity sub-station belonging to the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC)

    JED PLC is an indigenous electricity firm incorporated in Nigeria to carry out the business of electricity distribution and retail sale in the regions of Plateau, Gombe, Bauchi and Benue states

    The sub-station where the fire  occurred is located on Zaria Road. It supplies electricity to major parts of the state capital.

    The fire was said to have begun at 5:30pm when neighbours noticed thick black smoke oozing out of the plant.

    Men of the state fire service who arrived at the scene an hour after the fire began were unable to douse the flame. The fire had already engulfed the entire building hosting the sub-station.

    Eye witness said the firemen battled with the flames for about two hours before they could overcome it.

    By the time firemen eventually put out the fire, the company’s 150MVA power plant estimated at N20million had already been destroyed.

    The disaster led to the disruption of power supply across Plateau state.

    Somebody who resides close to the affected substation said: “The whole area, as far as I can see is in total darkness” The management of Jos Electricity Distribution PLC appealed to customers in Plateau, Gombe and Bauchi States not to be despair as a result of the power outage

    A statement by Head, corporate communication, Dr. FridayAdakole Elijah, attributed the outage to a fire incident at the kilometer 7 transmission station, Zaria road -Jos.

    Dr. Elijah, who regretted inconveniences being suffered by customers said a team of engineers had been mobilized to the scene of the incident with the view to restoring power within the shortest possible time

  • Fire razes four shops at Ekpoma

    Fire razes four shops at Ekpoma

    A midnight fire has razed four shops at a market in Ekpoma, headquarters of Esan West local government area.

    The fire could not be put out because there are no fire service station in the locality.

    Men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps station in the area only helped to protect some items rescued from other shops in the building.

    Items burnt included foodstuffs, computers and other household items.

    An official of NSCDC who led the rescue operation, Godwin Odameh said his men could only ensure that the rescued goods were not looted.

    He said the fire has already spread to the four shops before they got to the scene.

    Some of the victims said they were yet to ascertain what caused the fire because there was no electricity in the area.

     

  • Calabar tank farm fire: Positive side of tragedy

    Tragedy, like war is what nobody prays for. Discussing or mere talking about it is even tough for some as they feel awful or scared at the mention of it. However, the two are realities of life. They happen whether one likes it or not.  Life, itself is even described as a war. It is a thing we live with, day in day out.

    Human beings encounter tragedies or wars in different ways. For some, it is nagging domestic issues while in extreme cases, humans are faced with loss of precious ones and invaluable materials. Nobody prepares for it and none could predict its consequences. No matter how careful, one’s level of safety and security consciousness notwithstanding, they just happen, leaving behind tales of woes, sadness and catastrophes.

    For LINC Tank Farm Limited, Calabar, it was a tragedy too many on July 16, when its farm went up in flames as a result of an oil spillage. The inferno which occurred at about 3.40am claimed lives including those of a key worker of the farm, two in the opposite company, DOZZY Oil and Gas Tank Farm and some security personnel. The neighbouring community also shared from the tragedy as the inferno which erupted while people were scooping petrol (PMS) killed a number of the villagers. In addition, properties worth millions of Naira were also destroyed in LINC, DOZZY and other adjacent organizations. The environment was not spared too, as it suffered debilitating damages; the flora and fauna seriously hit.

    Three weeks after this sad incident, the whole of  Calabar Free Trade Zone is still in gloom as noticed when the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (downstream) paid an on the spot assessment to the farms last Thursday. From the entrance of the CFTZ to the LINC Farm, the adverse effects of the disaster were still palpable.

    Right inside the farm, one can only pity and empathize with the organization, as its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Patrick Ifeanyi Oramah conducted the team round the erstwhile functional and robust depot now characterized with charred structures, burnt facilities and dim looking workers. It was a pitiable sight that left most of the legislators feeling very concerned.

    Chief Oramah explained to the lawmakers that he was traveling out of the country when he got the most destabilizing call in his life that an oil spillage in their tank farm ignited and resulted in loss of lives.

    “The tragedy” Chief Oramah said “ensued as consequence of spillage of petroleum (PMS) into the drains while it was being pumped from Dozzy Jetty, through pumps run via our farm, to Dozzy Depot, another tank farm located opposite us. The spilled petroleum later got ignited while people were scooping it outside our premises”.  He told the lawmakers that his company did not have any product in any of its tanks as at the time of the incident as the tanks had remained empty since January, the last time they sold petroleum products at the depot.

    Oramah however became emotional as he revealed to the legislators that his company was expecting delivery of products to the tank farm the week the unfortunate incident occurred declaring that the incident was a terrible calamity for them and that they were deeply saddened.

    “LINC Nigeria Limited is terribly saddened over this disaster, particularly, the loss of human lives. We intensely commiserate with the families of the bereaved and the entire Esuk Utan Community. Our heartfelt sympathies go to DOZZY Tank Farm Limited and all our neighbours over these monumental losses” Chief Oramah said in an emotion laden voice.

    He however disclosed to the visiting legislators that the management of Calabar Export Free Zone handled the tragedy with deft and utmost sense of responsibility as he also praised the Fire Service, Nigeria Police and other security and safety agencies for their promptness and diligence in combating the fire.

    The instantaneous display of concern and conscientiousness by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and its regulatory agency, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to the disaster was also commended before the legislators. Oramah explained that that LINC has always been in total compliance with safety and security measures in and around its premises and in all its operations. He however added that Investigations were on- going and that his company was cooperating fully with the various agencies.

    Done with the briefings, the chairman of the committee on Petroleum (downstream), Honourable Joseph Akinlaja Iranola condoled the management of LINC, DOZZY, and the entire community over the unfortunate incident.

    Akinlaja said the committee was impressed with the effective management of the disaster by the Export Free Zone, the security and safety agencies of Cross River State and the federal government. He said with such exhibition of effectiveness in combating this tragedy, Nigeria was genuinely making progress in disaster management.

    The chairman assured that the National Assembly would continue to see to the protection and safety of lives and property of citizens in its legislative functions.

    As tragic as the incident was, it however provided some positives as narrated by the Chief Executive Officer of LINC, Chief Patrick Ifeanyi Oramah: the display of capacity, competence and care by all the concerned authorities and agencies of government, that our institutions are truly living up to their responsibilities in the spirit of change. This comes with the hope that the consequences of this ugly incident would not matter to LINC, all the organizations and individuals affected in no time.

     

    • Olaosebikan writes through midascommunications@gmail.com
  • Court stops planned promotion by Nigerian Immigration Service

    Court stops planned promotion by Nigerian Immigration Service

    The National Industrial Court in Abuja has ordered the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPSB) and the NIS from proceeding with their planned promotion exercise for senior officials of the Immigration Service.

    Justice M. N. Esowe of Court 3 of the National Industrial Court said, in an ex-parte ruling yesterday, that the affected agencies and officers are to put off the promotion exercise pending the determination of a pending motion on notice filed along with a substantive suit by an aggrieved NIS official, Daniel Makolo.

    The judge gave the ruling after listening to argument by Makolo’s lawyer; I. M. Ebikwo argued the ex-parte application filed along with the suit marked: NICN/BAJ/208/2017.

    Justice Esowa noted, in the ruling, that “the applicant was once accused of offence from which he was cleared. See letter of notification of clearance by the 2nddefendant dated 2nd March, 2017. In the 3rd July 2017 promotion examination for senior officers of the defendants, Compro. 08 – 14, applicant was not invited for verification/accreditation.

    “Even though the promotion candidate is not as of right, in the interest of justice, all workers should be given the opportunity of attending the examination.  The claimant/applicant was singularly omitted from this opportunity, which smacks of malice.

    “Whereby the court hereby makes this order restraining the defendants, their agents, privies, cronies or representatives, in any form or guise from harassing or intimidating the claimant/applicant and from carrying out any promotion exercise pending the hearing and determination of this motion on notice already filed, and thus maintaining the status quo ante,” the judge said.

    Justice Esowe adjourned to August 2, 2017 for the hearing of Makolo’s motion on notice for interlocutory injunctions against the defendants – the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPSB) and the NIS.

    Makolo stated, in a supporting affidavit, that he joined the NIS in 1987 as a senior officer on grade level 07 and has put in about 30 years in service. He said he has served diligently and has never been issued a query, but has only been promoted four times due to the manipulation of the process by some entrenched interests.

    He said: “My performances earned me recommendations, the fruits of which I was never allowed to enjoy due to blackmail and malicious treatment meted out to me by unscrupulous elements and their protégés at the helms of affair in the defendant organisations, with fraudulent intentions.

    “Promotion is manipulated against me at an average of six years as against three years stipulated in the extant rules and regulations contained in the terms and condition of service entered into by the parties.

    “My unwarranted and unjustified denial of promotions was actuated by blackmail and malice by the 1st defendant’s (NIS’) officers and same has continued till date as a result of which I have been kept in limbo, stagnated on the Chief Superintendent of Immigration (CSI) rank for about a decade now despite being a lawyer, a holder of NCE, LLB, BL, LLM degrees,” Makolo said.

    By August 2, the court is also expected to open hearing in the substantive suit, in which Makolo is among others, claiming N50million in damages, an order compelling the defendant to accord him his deserved rank of Deputy Comptroller of NIS and to take effect from 2012.

  • ‘Nine killed in Calabar tank farm fire’

    At least 13 persons were feared killed in a tank farm fire at the Calabar Free Zone Enterprise (FZE) in Cross River State yesterday.

    Several others sustained severe injuries and were taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).

    The Calabar FZE in Esuk Utan Community is host to several tank farms.

    The fire was due to illegal activities in one of the tank farms, The Nation gathered.

    It was learnt that a vessel was supplying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, to two of the tank farms around 2am.

    The ship, which was on the river nearby was supplying the product through pipes that passed through the premises of both tank farms. The distance between the ship and the tank farm is about a kilometre.

    While supplying was going on, a staff of one of the farms, identified as Sunny, who it was gathered was not on duty that night, opened the pipes inside their premises to siphon petrol.

    It was believed he was working with others and had been successful for a while until the pressure from where he was siphoning from knocked him down. It could not be ascertained what caused this. He died on the spot.

    The petrol filled the premises and flowed through gutters back into the river and into the Esuk Utan community, the host community. Due to the strong fumes, some members of the community woke up to realise that petrol was flowing through their gutters and decided to scoop the product for themselves. A fire was ignited and killed six of them.

    The Nation learnt that the fire followed the petrol through the gutters back to the vessel. The men on board managed to stop the fire from engulfing the vessel, using sophisticated fire-fighting equipment.

    However, a fishing settlement on the waterfront nearby was not so lucky. The settlement, which also serves as a fish market, was razed and seven people, who lived there, died, according to eyewitnesses. Several wooden canoes and engine boats were caught in the inferno.

    Three vessels in the adjoining Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) were also affected by the fire.

    A employee of one of the tank farms, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “Almost 30 people that we have been able to confirm have died. So many have severe injuries and have been rushed to the hospital. I saw someone whose entire legs had melted in the fire. It was only his bones that were sticking out. I do not know if he would survive. It was very horrible. There was fire everywhere. Nobody knew where they would run to. Many other companies in this vicinity and even inside the NPA have had one equipment or the other affected by the fire. The truth is that they were doing an illegal business there; that is why there was no safety measure. In fact, there was no safety measure at all that is why the situation got out of hand. If it was a normal operation, I believe it could have been contained easily. It is something they have been doing all the time, but today was bad luck for them.

    ”Despite what has happened, I can say it is just fortunate that the tank farms themselves did not blow up, thanks to the sophisticated fire-fighting equipment they have here, because the impact would have been like that of an atomic bomb. If that had happened, there is no community around us that would not have been severely affected.”

    Commissioner of Police Hafiz Inuwa confirmed the deaths. He said his men were on ground when the fire was raging and helped put out the fire as well as cordoned the area so hoodlums would not take advantage of the situation to loot.

    Commissioner for Petroleum Resources Mr Itaya Nyong, who was at the scene of the incident, confirmed the fire was as a result of the activities of criminal elements who were siphoning petrol from the tank farm.

    He said they were colluding with some security officials to carry out the nefarious act.  He added that an investigation would be launched into the matter and culprits brought to book.

    Inuwa  was quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as saying:  “Up until now, nobody has come out to tell us that this is what caused the fire outbreak. We have gone round, we have done what we can do but investigation will later reveal what actually led to the explosion.

    “For now, nine people are confirmed dead and many others who sustained different burns are currently receiving treatment in one of the hospitals around town.’’

  • Fire at FUTO’s ICT Centre

    The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) building of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) in Imo State, has been razed by fire.

    Eyewitnesses said the inferno started at 8:30am in the Computer Laboratory, when employees were yet to resume for work. The incident happened about three months after the ICT building was renovated, following its destruction during the February students’ riot.

    The source of the fire remained unclear as at the time this report was filed, but eyewitnesses said it might have been caused by power surge

    A  guard at the building, who pleaded for anonymity, recounted how the fire started.

    He said: “When I resumed for work that morning, there was electricity. So, I decided to charge my phone. About an hour after, there was power outage; it was restored within six minutes. Suddenly, I started perceiving the smell of burning wires, but I did not immediately know where the odour was coming from.

    ‘’When I went outside to check, I saw thick smoke billowing from the zinc roof of the building. I raised the alarm, but most of the workers were yet to resume. I noticed that the fire was coming out from a junction box, which indicated that it may have been caused by electrical fault. The next thing we heard was a loud bang from the computer laboratory.”

    By the time the inferno was put out, no fewer than 130 computers, 130 UPS devices, stabilisers and air conditioner appliances had been destroyed. But there was no loss of life.