Devastating Fire at Technology Incubation Centre Claims Entrepreneur’s Business.
By Our Reporter.
A significant fire outbreak at the Technology Incubation Centre in Minna has resulted in the total loss of the Ebonext Foods and More business unit, owned by entrepreneur Mrs. Ogochukwu Tosin Juliana.
The fire, which erupted in the early morning hours, obliterated equipment, production machines, and goods valued at nearly N20 million, leaving Mrs. Juliana to assess her devastating losses.
Upon receiving multiple missed calls from the centre, Mrs. Juliana rushed to the scene to find her workspace completely engulfed in flames. “When I woke up this morning and saw the missed calls, I immediately contacted the centre to find out what had happened. Upon arrival, I was heartbroken to see everything in my unit reduced to ashes. The late response from the fire service meant we could not salvage anything,” she recounted, devastated.
Security personnel on duty, Shittu Ladan, reported observing smoke during their night patrol and promptly raised the alarm. However, delays in fire service response hampered efforts to control the flames quickly.
“We initially contacted the Federal Fire Service, but they claimed it was outside their jurisdiction. It was only after reaching out to the State Fire Service that the blaze was eventually extinguished, but not before it could cause considerable damage,” he stated.
Engineer Nathaniel Kojoko from the centre’s technical department confirmed that preliminary investigations indicate an electrical spark may have triggered the fire.
He expressed concern about the extent of the damage, noting, “This unprecedented incident is a significant loss for the centre, and we must escalate the matter to higher authorities for possible assistance.”
In light of this tragedy, the centre’s management appeals for support from the federal government and the community to assist Mrs. Juliana in rebuilding her business.
“The aim of our centre is to empower entrepreneurs, and it is vital that we rally together to help her recover from this unfortunate event,” they emphasized.
Mrs. Juliana, despite her sorrow, holds onto hope for recovery and assistance. “I believe that God will provide support for me, and I sincerely hope the government and the incubation centre will aid me in starting anew,” she stated, her voice filled with emotion.
