FAAN investigates cause of fire as workers resume

… Agency sets up investigative panel

Few hours after a massive fire consumed its headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has set up a committee to investigate the immediate and the remote cause of the fire.

The fire, which on Tuesday disrupted activities at the agency and consumed at least three departments in the agency, started around 9am.

The Managing Director of FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma, mentioned composition of the committee to include the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and Department of State Security (DSS).

Others are Aviation Security (AVSEC), Safety and Departments of FAAN while at least two staff from the Legal Department would act as a member and a secretary for the panel.

Dunoma said that the committee, which has commenced work immediately, is expected to submit its report to the management within two weeks.

He however said that the Nigeria Police would still carry out an independent investigation on the fire incident, stressing that management investigative panel would not in any way obstruct the independent investigation of the police.

He described the incident as unfortunate and regrettable, but vowed that the management would unravel the cause of the incident to prevent future occurrences.

He said: “The committee is to look into the immediate and remote causes of the fire, extent of damage, contribution of each agency, proffer solution. The committee is also expected to look at other issues that may come up in the cause of their investigation.

“The major essence of the committee is to prevent recurrence. This has happened, we must ensure that we look into all the details to prevent a future occurrence. Everybody in FAAN is in a bad mood and that include the management and staff. Some of us are looking dejected and this is human and natural.”

Dunoma however noted that the fire incident would not affect smooth operations at FAAN as workers are expected to resume for normal duties today.

On the plan to construct a befitting headquarters to the agency since December 2015 as ordered by the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Dunoma assured that the process was on-going.

He declared that the management had started the process with the expected design of the structure, adding that various architects had submitted their designs to the agency for selection.

“Architects have submitted their designs to FAAN, but we are looking at them and correcting them where necessary. They are actually jostling to take the contract. We want to make all efforts to make sure that we get it right once and for all.”

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.”

The agency’s firefighting unit supported by the Lagos State Fire Service Department put out the fire at around 10.
FAAN workers gathered in groups to discuss the incident while the premises was condoned off by security personnel who prevented people from gaining access.