Billions of naira worth of property was, at the weekend, destroyed, as fire ravaged Tower Aluminum Company, at the Industrial Estate in Onipanu area of Ota, Ogun State.
The inferno reportedly affected up to 15 companies, which relied on Tower Aluminum’s mill, which was completely burnt.
The fire incident, which was said to have started from a minor spark on the spillage of diesel near the company’s ultramodern mill and panel room, put a halt to operations in most of the companies at the industrial estate.
The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the fire, which started around 5 O’ clock on Saturday morning, raged for more than five hours and completely destroyed the multi-billion naira mill and the company’ s panel rooms before it was put out by combined team of fire fighters from many companies and the Living Faith Church members.
Efforts to get fire fighters from the state fire service failed, as they reportedly told the company that their truck was faulty and, therefore, could not make it to the company.
The fire incident was said to have been caused by the negligence of some of the company’ s staff, who were supposed to have put out the minor spark before going wild.
“It used to happen like that and all they needed do was just spill water on the spark, but there was nobody around and the fire went wild, completely burnt the mill and the panel rooms,” a member of staff, who pleaded anonymity said.
A source at the company also stated that officials of an insurance company had visited the company and that Tower Aluminum was trying to create an ulster native mill with the old mill.
The source said “it happened very early on Saturday. There was a spark, which was supposed to be monitored by two members of staff, but were not on ground.
“One of them had closed earlier than the normal time, while the other person had gone to have his bath. Any of them could have put out the fire, if around.”
The company’s source also stated that “the plumber and the person, who was supposed to fill water tank are also to be blamed, because there was no water to put out the fire before it went out of control.
He also stated that “all of them have been invited by the company’s authority and that there is every likelihood they will be sacked by the management.” Tribune
