The Management of Next Cash and Carry Supermarket has called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire outbreak at the store. The company made this known in a statement by its General Manager, Pape Neil on his official Facebook page on Tuesday evening.
“The company appeals to the investigating authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain the immediate and remote cause of the fire outbreak which is strange and has the effect of adversely affecting future investments in the FCT and Nigeria at large.” Neil said.
Neil maintained that the store was built and operated according to international standards, adding that the roof was fireproof and that it had a competent Firefighting truck in Abuja which has assisted the fire service in fire incidents in Abuja in the past.
The statement partly read, “Next Cash and Carry Facilities & Store were built & operated according to international standards.
The Roof covering of Next Cash & Carry building is fireproof. Next Cash and Carry limited have a competent Firefighting truck in Abuja which has assisted the FIRE SERVICE in several fire incidents in Abuja.
The company has fire extinguishers and fire hose reels connected to the hydrant placed in strategic positions all within the store under the FCT Fire service supervision.
The FCT Fire service conducts quarterly fire outbreak training for all staff & certifies all our operations. Next Cash and Carry has outsourced & employed a professional security company.
The company also has staff strength of about 1000 direct and indirect staff and over 3000 vendors, with 200 farmers supplying items to the store.
A massive fire had engulfed the supermarket on Sunday morning, destroying goods worth millions of naira.
