Residents and traders around the Industrial Layout in Aba have recounted tense moments of panic and uncertainty after a fire outbreak engulfed stacks of plastic crates at a facility linked to Nigerian Breweries Plc on Thursday afternoon, with economic losses estimated to run into hundreds of millions of naira.
The blaze, which started at about 4:10 p.m., quickly sent thick smoke billowing into the sky, drawing crowds of onlookers and sparking fears that the fire could spread to nearby homes, businesses and petrol stations in the densely populated commercial area.
Eyewitnesses said what began as a faint column of smoke rapidly escalated into a raging fire as flames spread across piles of empty plastic crates stored at the open facility.
“I first noticed smoke rising from the direction of the depot,” said Mr. Ibenyi Okafor, a trader who operates near the facility. “Within minutes, the fire spread across the crates. The smoke became very thick and people started shouting and running.”
Many traders said they initially feared the inferno might reach surrounding buildings, forcing some shop owners and food vendors to hurriedly remove valuables from their stalls.
Mrs. Ngozi Nwankwo, who runs a small eatery close to the depot, described the moment the fire intensified as chaotic.
“People were screaming and calling the fire service,” she said. “Some workers tried to move items away from the fire, but the flames were already too strong. Everyone was afraid it might spread to nearby buildings.”
The facility where the fire occurred is located in an open space leased from the Nigerian Railway Corporation, and company officials later clarified that only empty plastic crates were affected while the main brewing plant remained unharmed.
Emergency responders from the Abia State Fire Service and other agencies arrived shortly after the alarm was raised, battling the blaze for several hours before finally bringing it under control shortly before 6 p.m.
For many residents, the sight of firefighters working tirelessly to contain the flames brought relief that what could have become a major disaster was eventually prevented.
Officials confirmed that no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded in the incident.
During an inspection visit to the site, Abia State Governor Alex Chioma Otti commended the swift and coordinated response of emergency agencies, noting that their prompt intervention helped prevent the fire from spreading further.
“Looking at that place, it’s probably the last place that you’ll expect to have a fire incident because it was just on its own, in an open field, so anything could have happened,” the governor said.
“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 added.
The governor also explained that the location of the affected facility initially made it difficult to immediately identify it as belonging to the brewery.
“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,” he said.
Governor Otti further acknowledged the long-standing presence of the brewery in Abia State and assured the company of continued government support.
“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,” he said.
“This is a place 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.”
Company officials said the fire started after smoke was detected at the storage area, prompting workers to activate internal emergency procedures before contacting external fire services.
Engr. Benjamin Okore, Chief Engineer at the brewery, explained that the affected section was not part of the main brewing plant.
“The place where the fire incident happened is an open space, a lease facility by the Nigerian Railway Corporation,” he said. “Empty crates without bottles were affected while the main brewery plant was not impacted.”
He added that the company deployed its internal firefighting equipment and hydrant systems immediately after the alarm was raised, while also requesting assistance from government fire agencies.
“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,” Okore said.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Meanwhile, residents around the area say the incident has renewed concerns about fire safety in the city’s busy commercial districts, noting that the consequences could have been far worse if the flames had spread beyond the storage area.
