Kogi State Governor, His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has directed his Deputy, His Excellency Comrade Joel Salifu, to assess the damage caused by a fire outbreak at PEELINKS Electronics Limited in Lokoja.
The Deputy Governor disclosed this on Thursday during a visit to the electronics mall to assess the extent of the damage caused by the fire, which occurred on Wednesday evening.
Comrade Salifu explained that he immediately informed the Governor upon receiving news of the incident, following which he was directed to visit the scene and obtain a firsthand assessment of the situation.
He commended security agencies, the Lokoja Fire Service and youths of Lokoja for their swift response and efforts to salvage goods from the burning building.
The Deputy Governor particularly praised the courage and solidarity demonstrated by the youths, noting that their intervention helped minimise the impact of the disaster and provided support to the management of the company during the difficult period.
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PEELINKS Electronics Limited, Mr. Peter Onujeme, disclosed that he received a distress call from a staff member at about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, informing him that the roof of the mall was on fire.
He suspected that a power surge might have triggered the incident, explaining that electricity supply had been fluctuating before the outbreak. However, the cause of the fire has yet to be officially established.
Mr. Onujeme said the full value of the goods destroyed was still being determined but estimated the losses to be worth hundreds of millions of naira.
He expressed appreciation to the Lokoja Fire Service for its prompt intervention, noting that the firefighters’ efforts prevented the fire from causing more extensive damage.
He also commended the Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the youths of Lokoja for their contributions, particularly those who risked their lives to enter the burning building and rescue goods.
The PEELINKS chief executive further expressed gratitude to the Kogi State Government for its concern and support, stating that the Deputy Governor’s visit had provided relief and reassurance that the company was not alone in the aftermath of the incident.
PEELINKS Electronics Limited is one of the major electronics retailers in Lokoja and a notable shopping destination for electronics in North-Central Nigeria.
The state government’s visit underscores its concern for businesses operating in Kogi State and the need to support affected enterprises in the aftermath of emergencies.