Fire Razes Multi-billion Naira Pharmaceutical Company in Kwara

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

A multi-billion naira pharma-ceutical company has been razed by fire in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

During the incident, according to THISDAY checks, property worth several millions of naira were destroyed by the inferno.

The fire incident occurred last Tuesday at about 11:55 hours at the Peace Pharmaceutical Company, opposite National Hajj Commission in Ilorin West Local Government Area secretariat.

The press officer of the state Fire Service, Mr. Hassan Adekunle, who spoke with THISDAY in Ilorin yesterday, confirmed the fire incident.

He said: “We received an emergency call of a fire incident at Peace Pharmaceutical Company.

“The fire crew, upon receiving the distress call, promptly departed from the station with the fire appliances to attend to the situation.

“Upon arrival at the scene, the fire crew encountered a severe and rapidly spreading fire at the Peace Pharmaceutical Company. “

“The firemen immediately commenced firefighting operations to contain the inferno and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the company.

“Despite the scale of the disaster, the firemen, who demonstrated their expertise and skill, successfully controlled and extinguished the fire with firefighting techniques.”

Adekunle added that during the incident, the Nigeria Police ‘D’ Division was also present to maintain order and prevent any possible aggression from the mob and staff of the company towards the firemen.

He said an investigation into the cause of the inferno revealed that it originated from the process of siphoning ethanol from an ethanol tanker to the company’s ethanol reservoir.

“A spark emitted from the pumping machine and ignited the flammable liquid, leading to the outbreak of the fire.

“The unfortunate incident resulted in substantial damage to the company,” he stated.

Also speaking on the incident, the Director, state Fire Service, Mr. Falade John Olumuyiwa, advised that to avoid similar incidents in the future, residents and property owners in the state should install and regularly maintain appropriate fire safety measures.