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FAAN to carry undercover probe into inferno, sets up panel
*No going back on new head office-Dunoma
*Commercial, audit, media depts. raised down
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has set up an investigative panel into the early morning fire that engulfed three departments at its corporate headquarters.
The panel consisting : Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA), Accident Investigation Bureau ( AIB), Department of State Services ( DSS), Nigeria Police, and personnel of its legal , safety and aviation security departments is to unravel the immediate and remote cause of the inferno an extent of damage.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director FAAN, Saleh Dunoma said the proposed multi million naira FAAN headquarters is still on the card and would commence after the design for the project is picked.
The present structure housing the agency’s head office is not only befitting but an irony for an aviation agency that is considered to be the proverbial cash-cow of the sector. Aside that, the burnt head office is a ramshackle structure, that made the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi to commit the agency to build ultra-modern office when he visited FAAN in December 2015.
Addressing reporters yesterday, Dunoma said in addition to the panel’s investigation, the Police would also carry out an undercover probe into the cause of the inferno to establish theories of conspiracy and possible sabotage.
He said it was premature to give the cause of the fire as it could jeopardize ongoing investigations.
Dunoma said the affected sections in the Director of Commercial Services office, audit and corporate communications departments have been cordoned off to allow the relevant authorities carry out their investigations without tampering with any evidence.
He said workers using offices in the affected sections will be relocated to other sections in the building to allow them carry out their duties. The fire incident, Dunoma said will lead to shutting down the headquarters.
Dunoma said :” We are all dejected about this fire incident , as you can see the workers are not happy
But, FAAN is not shutting down, we have set up a panel and we will allow them do their work. This is the reason we cordoned off the affected sections of the building.
“The reason for setting up the panel is to establish the immediate and remote cause and extent of damage.”
Meanwhile, the fire incident however affected vehicular movement along the busy Airport Road, occasioning gridlock.
The fire which started about 9.00 am was said to have been triggered by power surge, throwing the complex into darkness.
But, FAAN fire rescue fighting team in collaboration with the Lagos State Fire Services mobilized to put out the inferno after breaking into many offices.
A section of the headquarters has been cordoned off forcing many workers that had reported for duty to close for the day.
In December 2015, Transportation Minister, Rotimi Ameachi mandated FAAN to build a befitting headquarters.
Speaking on the proposed headquarters, Dunoma said:” FAAN new headquarters is on-going. We are looking at the designs, and the architects have submitted proposals. We are at the process of selecting designs and a consultant for the project. It is a difficult decision to take and we regret any inconvenience caused so far caused.”
Earlier, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni who visited the place at 10:55am for on the spot assessment, said that the immediate and the remote cause of the fire incident could not be ascertained at the moment.
He, however, said that investigations had already begun to know the cause of the fire incident.
He said: “Fire service responded to the distress call and ensured that the fire was properly prevented from spreading.
Some of the offices were affected and the FAAN’s management is already making arrangements to relocate some of the departments to other areas that were not affected by the fire.
“The police are there to prevent casualty and mutiny. The police in conjunction with FAAN’s security have taken control of security. We are still on the cause of the fire, it is still fresh, but the reasons behind the fire incident would be out with reports from several agencies.
“The response of the police was immediate and adequate arrangements were made, which prevented it from spreading. That is why it is accident. It can happen when you don’t expect it. They are occurrences that happen without giving notices.
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