AbIa State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has commended the swift and coordinated coordinated emergency response efforts of the State Fire service, following a fire outbreak at a facility linked to Nigerian Breweries Plc in Aba, describing the intervention as timely and effective.
The fire incident, which occurred on Thursday afternoon, reportedly started at about 3:20 p.m. and was brought under control before 6 p.m. The inferno, broke out at an open space leased from the Nigerian Railway Corporation and affected only empty crates without bottles, with no casualties recorded.
Speaking after an inspection tour of the site, Governor Otti praised the coordinated efforts of emergency agencies especially the professionalism of the Abia State Fire Service and expressed gratitude to God that no lives were lost.
The Governor who also expressed gratitude that the incident was not more severe, emphasised the critical importance of sustained safety measures and preparedness against unforeseen emergency incidents.
“Looking at that place, it’s probably the last place that you’ll expect to have a fire incident because it was just on it’s own, in an open field, so anything could have happened.
“It could be a match, it could be a cigarette or anything but you should be prepared like the boys scout will say while we pray it doesn’t happen again”, he cautioned.
The Governor disclosed that he had monitored the situation closely and initially did not realise the incident involved Nigerian Breweries due to the location of the affected facility.
“It was much later after the incident have been contained that I knew it was Nigerian brewery because it is far away from here. When we tried to locate the place, from our digital device, it didn’t point to Nigeria Breweries” the Governor said.
Governor Otti, acknowledged the longstanding presence of Nigerian Breweries Plc in the state and assured that his administration would continue to provide a conducive and enabling environment for the company to thrive.
“You have been here for almost seventy years and that’s good. All we owe you is an enabling environment for your business to continue to do well.
“This is a place (Abia) where all Nigerians gather and are working together. That is what the new Abia speaks about. Here we don’t have State of origin and we are all equal”.
Earlier, the Brewery Manager, represented by the
Chief Engineer of the Nigerian Breweries PLC, Engr Benjamin Okore, confirmed that the fire began around 3:20 p.m. after a staff member raised an alarm and clarified that the affected area was not part of the main brewing plant.
Engr. Okore further explained that the company activated its emergency response immediately the fire was detected and deployed internal firefighting resources before calling for external assistance.
He added that the company is currently assessing the extent of losses, noting that the fire was extinguished before 6 p.m. by the coordinated support of fire agencies which he commended for being instrumental in containing the inferno.
“The place where the fire incident happened is an open space, a lease facility by the Nigeria railway corporation. Empty crates without bottles were affected while this place that we are now is the main brewery, this is the main plant of the brewery.
“When the fire happened, alarm was raised and we activated our emergency procedure. Our fire fighters were mobilised, our fire truck was mobilised and we used a fire hydrant and other fire fighting measures.
“We also called on the Abia State Fire Service and Federal Fire Service. There was so much team spirit and speed in action. They arrived on time and together as teamwork we were able to contain the fire completely.
“We thank God so much that no lives were lost, nobody was injured, we only had some empty crates without bottles that were damaged. Further investigation is ongoing to ascertain the root cause”, Engr Okore said.
He further reaffirmed the company’s commitment to collaboration with regulatory and emergency agencies, adding that “We will continue to engage with your government and regulatory agencies and partner with you.
“We already have a good cordial working relationship with the fire service. They come here regularly to work with us, to do emergency drills with us and even give us training.
Earlier in an interview with National Ambassador reporter, the Mayor of Aba North Local Government Area, Mr Timothy Iheke, disclosed that he immediately coordinated response efforts upon receiving information of the fire incident.
The Mayor, who however raised suspicion about the cause of the fire expressed optimism that an investigation will reveal the cause of the incident .
Similarly, the Area Coordinator of the Abia State Harmonised Task Force, Chief Uche Nwogu, described the intensity of the inferno as overwhelming, likening the scene to “hell on earth”.
Chief Nwogu, who expressed relief that the fire did not spread beyond the immediate area, said the swift intervention of multiple fire services, supported by local volunteers, helped contain what could have escalated into a major disaster.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Abia State Ministry of Industry and SMEs, Rev Dr Okey Ihemanma, who represented the Commissioner, warned that the consequences could have been catastrophic if the fire had spread beyond the immediate area.
“There are surrounding buildings, residential buildings, banks, churches, petrol stations, it would have caused a massive infrastructural loss”, he said.
Rev Dr Ihemanma also raised concerns about possible deliberate ignition, arguing that the materials involved could not have caught fire without an external trigger.
“These are petrochemical products, there must be an ignition. Some saboteurs must have come in secretly”, he said.
Governor Otti who was accomplished by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Emmanuel Emeruwa and other top government officials, also inspected the main brewing facility if the Nigeria Breweries PLC.
