Fire guts Defence Hq store

Chris Agbambu, Abuja - 27.01.2008

The store of the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Abuja was yesterday gutted by fire which raged for about an hour before fire-fighters from the federal fire service and Julius Berger were able to put it off.

Property worth millions of naira including generators, furniture and other office equipments bought by the ministry for the last verification exercise of military pensioners nationwide, and about 50 computers recently bought and distributed by the MOD to its offices and departments were destroyed in the fire.

The fire, which was caused by the burning of the bush behind the Ministry of Defence building, according to eye-witnesses, spread into the building and has affected the main store, engineering, and drivers’ offices at about 3 p.m.

Before the time officers of the Nigerian Navy Unit, Abuja, who first got wind of the fire could mobilize the fire service, a substantial amount of furniture in both the engineering block, the drivers cabin and the store had been burnt beyond recognition.

When Sunday Tribune visited the scene, Garrison Commander AHQ, Major General Role, the Principal General Staff Officer to the Minister of Defence, Brig-General G. Audu, Navy Captain J. O. Oluwole, Commanding Officer Naval Unit Abuja and Air Commodore Adekunle, Commander NAF Camp, Abuja, Colonel Chike Ude were seen coordinating efforts to completely put off the fire and prevent it from spreading to the main building.

Senior officials of the ministry who rushed to the scene on hearing about the incident include the Director of Administration, Alhaji Buba Gamawa, and the Director PRS, Dr. Olorunfemi.

Contacted over the incident, Assistant Director, Information, Ministry of Defence, Mr. Adedeji Ajibade, said no life was lost but said he was not in a position to quantify the extent of the damage done but promise to make such information known as soon as possible.