Toritseju Vincent
Lagos — The terminal ‘C’ managed by Port and Cargo Limited at the Tin-Can Island of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, is currently burning with cargoes worth millions of Naira destroyed.
Although, details of the development remain sketchy as at the time of filling this report.
Meanwhile, the management of the Tin-Can Island Port of the Nigerian Port Authority, NPA, has said that no life was lost to the fire that engulfed a gantry crane at ship side at the Port and Cargo Terminal yesterday.
Speaking on the development, the Public Relation Officer of the Port, Mr. Shola Adesanwo told our correspondent that the started from tyre of the gantry crane adding that firefighters were able to put off the inferno before it could spread up to crane.
Adesanwp also that he was still in talks with the fire service department of the agency to get more details as to what caused the fire before issuing a statement.
Recall that the terminal ‘C’ operated by Port and Cargo in the early evening of yesterday went up in flames as fighters battled for more than five hours to put off the fire.
In its reaction to the development the management of Sifax, owners of Port and Cargo Handling Company Limited, operators of terminal ‘C’ has refuted media report making the round about a vessel being gutted by fire.
In a statement signed by Muyiwa Akande, Head Corporate Communication of the group, said the vessel at berth as at the time of the incident was not affected while container both on board the vessel as well as other consignment at the terminal were also not affected.
Akande also said although, substantial damage was done to the gantry crane adding that the fire did not spread because of the timely intervention of firefighter and other stakeholders.
According to Akande: “At about 12:50 on Thursday July 20, 2023, one of our equipment, a shore crane, developed a technical fault and before anything could be done to fix, it went up in flames.
“There was a quick response from all stakeholders which resulted in putting out the fire as soon as possible even though substantial damage was done.
“The vessel at berth as at the time of the incident was not affected by the fire while containers both on board the vessel as well as the consignment at the terminal were not affected also.
“There was no loss of life as operator working on the affected equipment was safely rescued without any injury.
“The said equipment as well as all other equipment and facilities at the terminal are all insured.
As a company, we are committed to operational excellence in a safe and secure environment for collective good of all our stakeholder, customers, agents, staff, regulators and the general public.”
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