26th March, 2012
The press unit of the Delta state government house, Asaba was on Sunday gutted by a raging inferno.
The cause of the fire outbreak which started at about 10 pm could not be immediately ascertained.
According to a press statement issued and signed by Sunny Ogefere, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, security officials on duty and other personnel who spotted the fire sent distress call to the State Fire Service, who promptly brought the fire under control, preventing it from razing the entire building.
The office of the Chief Press Secretary and the adjoining office occupied by the supporting staff were mainly affected by the fire.
The deputy governor, Prof Amos Utuama; the Chief of Staff, Dr Festus Okubor; the Permanent Secretary, Government House and Protocol, Mr. Tony Obuh; and the state Commissioner of Police,, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba were on ground in the night to ensure that the fire was brought under control.
As at the time of filing this report, investigations are on to ascertain the cause of the fire incident and the extent of damage.
—Jethro Ibileke, Benin