Fire At Niger Biscuit Apapa, Properties Worth Billions Destroyed

BEVERLY HILLS, March 20, (THEWILL) –  Niger Biscuit Co. Limited, producer of Cabin biscuit, at Creek Road, Apapa, had a fire outbreak as one of its diesel tanks exploded, leaving three casualties and destroying property worth several billions of naira.

The fire, which was said to have started at 12pm , Sunday , left three persons, the company’s security guard and two fighter fighters, terribly injured. The casualties were rushed to the hospital.

According to an eyewitness, the incident started from an electrical socket on the last floor of the first building at 12pm and affected one of the diesel tanks, which immediately exploded.

“We all rushed out when we saw it. We called the fire fighters. They got here 20 minutes later and have been trying to contain it,” he said.

“They have been using our system to fight the fire. Everything they are using is ours,” emphasizing that the fire fighters came with their trucks but without water.”

The source, who spoke with THEWILL on anonymity, added that “the problem they have in Niger Biscuit is that they laid off about 200 workers alongside those in the fire service department just last month.”

Although, nine fire service companies such as the Nigerian Ports Authority Marina headquarter, Fire Eagle, Nigerian Navy, Lagos State Fire Service Alausa, Ilupeju, and UBA joined forces to kill the flames, THEWILL gathered that they were only able to get more water from Folawiyo in Apapa to continue, as their tankers went dry.

As a result of the fire, one of the buildings had collapsed and another was at the verge of collapse.

One of the fire fighters from Alausa, Ogunbanjo Kazeem, revealed that it took over one hour to bring down the scourging flames adding that “we are all working unanimously to contain it.”

Also. S.A Kehinde, Head of Station and Assistant Chief Fire Superintendent, Sari Iganmu, revealed that the fire fighters were called at 2:15pm noting that “ within 20 minutes , we got here with one truck. I notified other fire stations. We have about nine of them here.

“Although one of my men and I were injured when the building collapsed, mine is minor. But we shall contain the fire in the next three hours as Bronto Sky Lift alongside Julius Berger trucks have joined forces with us.”

Story by David Oputah