A serious incident occurred recently in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, as a fire broke out at Block C of the federal secretariat. Mallam Mohammmed Ahmed, the communications director of the Office of the Chief Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), confirmed the incident in a statement on the evening of Saturday, December 2, 2023.
According to him, the fire, which affected the utility rooms on the second to eighth floors of the building, was triggered by an explosion in the electrical utility room on the third floor of Block C.
“At around 2:30 p.m. today (Saturday), a fire broke out at Block C of the Federal Secretariat, Phase II, Abuja. The fire was triggered by an explosion in the electrical services room on the third floor of Block C , which was used as a solar room and inverter room by the current occupier, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said.
“The incident, which was brought under control due to the quick intervention of personnel of the Federal Fire Service and Federal Capital (FCT) at around 5 p.m., affected the utility rooms from the second to eighth floors of the building” , he added.
Ahmed said the permanent secretaries of the OHCSF Common Services Offices, Lydia Jafiya, and Special Duties, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, as well as directors of relevant ministries and agencies were present at the scene during the operation.
This incident highlights the importance of safety and preventative measures in public buildings and highlights the need to increase awareness of the risks associated with electrical installations. The authorities must now investigate the causes of the explosion and put in place appropriate measures to avoid such incidents in the future.
The prompt response of firefighting teams made it possible to contain the fire and prevent further damage. However, this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper emergency planning and employee training to deal with these types of situations.
It is also crucial to emphasize the need for regular maintenance of electrical installations and safety devices in public buildings in order to prevent any potential incidents. Managers must take seriously their responsibility to ensure the safety of employees and the public in these spaces.
In conclusion, this incident in Abuja highlights the importance of safety and fire prevention in public buildings. It is essential that the authorities take steps to investigate the incident and put in place adequate prevention measures to avoid such events in the future. The safety of employees and the public must always be a top priority in all work environments.