NNPC Suleja Depot Gutted by Fire

By Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot in Suleja, Niger State,  was yesterday gutted by fire.

An articulated vehicle, as well as the loading canopy  at the depot were mostly affected by the inferno.

It was learnt that but for the timely arrival of men of the fire service in Suleja, the entire depot would have been razed.

The Head of Operations, Minna Office of the corporation, Mr. Slaku Bijimi, who confirmed the incident, said: “The fire started around 5a.m. and by 5:30a.m., it was put out.

Bijimi however, said no life was lost in the incident, adding that “the damage was also not much because the fire service  officials arrived almost immediately after they were called.”

He confirmed that an articulated vehicle was burnt while the loading canopy and some pipes were damaged at the depot.

The officer in charge of the fire service in Suleja, Mr Mohammad Kwale, when contacted, also confirmed the fire incident, saying fire fighters swiftly swung  into action when a distress call was made, adding that “there was no serious damage.”

In the meantime the depot had been sealed up by a combined team of the fire service, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).