Next Cash and Carry: FCT launches probe over Fire Incident after Massive Looting

Next Cash and Carry: FCT launches probe over Fire Incident after Massive Looting

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said that it would launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sunday morning inferno at one of Abuja’s high scale shopping mall, Next Cash and Carry in which goods and property estimated at billions of naira were lost.

Located in Jahi District, the fire started very early in the morning.

Federal Capital Territory FCT minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello who expressed shock and deep sadness over the fire incident said the administration would commence a probe of the incident.

The minister in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Anthony Ogunleye also commiserated with the management and staff of the supermarket and the FCT business community over the unfortunate incident.

The Ministry’s action came after looters stormed the mall and looted many household goods like mattresses, electronics, groceries among others.

Several goods valued at billions of naira were burnt in the inferno.

The in-house firefighting truck was said to have developed a fault and could not be used, leaving the facility managers to wait for emergency services to turn out.

“The Minister commended the FCT Fire Service, the Federal Fire Service, the Fire Service Departments of the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, Guards Brigade and Julius Berger Nig. PLC that responded with their fire-fighting equipment.

“He equally commended the FCT FEMA, the National Emergency Management Agency, Security agencies and other responders for their efforts in containing the blaze.

“Malam Bello also assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted to ascertain the cause of the fire incident in an effort to prevent a reoccurrence in any other business establishment within the FCT”, the statement added.

By PRNigeria