By Remi Johnson
Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu has sympathized with the management and staff of Next Cash N Carry Super market over the fire incident which razed part of the shopping mall on boxing day.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Mr Austine Elemue in Abuja.
The statement says the minister at the scene of the inferno, commended critical stakeholders for their prompt response, stressing that the spirit of sportsmanship exhibited shows that much would be achieved when people work together.
She pledged that the FCT Administration would henceforth ensure that all standard shopping malls have fire trucks for emergency situations.
The minister of state also commended the residents of the territory for assisting the mall to salvage some of the goods, noting that in most cases unscrupulous elements could have seized the opportunity to cart away valuable items.
According to her, “sadly, this is another unfortunate inferno in a festive period being December 26, 2021. From the report so far, the fire might have occurred much earlier before it was reported.
“But as soon as it was reported, we must commend the active and quick response of the Federal Fire Service, the Navy, Airforce, Army, FEMA, NNPC, NSCDC and other agencies that came to put off the fire. It is unfortunate it got to this extent.
“But again, we must commend the residents and indigenes of the territory for their collective support. Let us keep this good spirit of oneness. Goods we’re not looted here as being speculated.
“People used their own cars to secure whatever they can secure and you can see some of the items there. It is not in our character to loot other people’s items, and I call on residents to keep up the good spirit”.