BUA Group has reacted to a fire incident at its cement factory in Sokoto State.
Recall, THE WITNESS had reported that two oil tanks belonging to the company exploded at Sokoto factory on Friday, leading to the death of some workers, while others sustained injuries.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Saturday, Sada Suleiman, Assistant Director of Administration Services, BUA Group, said the tragedy occurred whilst a routine maintenance work was ongoing on one of the storage tanks by a third-party contractor. It said three workers have been confirmed dead.
The company, noted, however, that the exact cause of the fire outbreak at the depot could not yet be established, even as it said that the facility had adequate safety and control mechanisms in place.
“We wish to use this medium to inform the public of an isolated fire incident which occurred at a diesel storage tank farm situated in the vicinity of one of our factories in Sokoto. This incident occurred whilst routine maintenance work was ongoing on one of the storage tanks by a third-party contractor,” the statement said.
“Immediately the incident occurred, our emergency management and mitigation services were alerted, and a swift response activated, which prevented any escalation of the incident or damage to our main plant and equipment. We are however able to confirm the regrettable loss of 3 workers of the third-party contractor, who were in the immediate area of the incident.
“Whilst we are yet to ascertain the exact cause of the fire outbreak at the depot which had adequate safety and control mechanisms in place, members of the Federal Fire Service, State Fire Service, and our Fire department are working together to put the incident under total control.”
The company which also confirmed the shutting down of operations at the facility, however, said it was done as a precautionary measure, and promised to keep the public updated on new developments.
“We would also like to note that operations at the plant and production which were shut down in the aftermath of the incident as a precautionary and preventive measure, have since resumed at the factory – which was unaffected by the incident,” it said.
“We will keep the public informed through this medium of any new development.”