By Babatunde Odubanwo

The management of Access Bank has assured its millions of customers that all is well after this morning’s fire incident in one of its branches.

In an official statement made public by the company’s secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, the bank states: ‘’This is to inform the investing public, our esteemed customers and the Nigerian Stock Exchange that the fire incidence which occurred this morning in our branch at Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos has been extinguished without any human casualty.

We would like to thank every organization and individual that helped in managing the situation. In the meantime, our customers of the said branch are advised to make use of the following alternate branches in VI, Lagos.

1. Adeola Odeku Street
2. Muri Okunola Street
3. Ajose Adeogun Street’’

Recall that a fire incidence was earlier reported at the Adetokunbo Ademola branch of foremost leading commercial bank around 10:30am on Wednesday, August 26, 2020. The fire incidence was said to have been ignited by a diesel truck with registered plate number: AKD 637 XP carrying 33,000 litres of diesel (A.G.O) that had come to discharge fuel at the bank before events went awry.

Confirming this incidence via its official Twitter page, the bank stated: “There has been a fire incident at our Adetokunbo Ademola branch this morning. Thankfully, no one was harmed. Our fire protocol has been activated and all personnel have been moved to safety. Cause of the fire was a diesel truck discharging fuel, we advise you to avoid that area,” the tweet reads.
The prompt response of the officials of the Federal Fire Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency Response Team (LASEMA), UBA Fire Service, Lagos Fire service whose joint efforts in putting out the fire, helped avert what would have been a colossal loss of lives and properties.

Affirming its readiness in combating the fire disaster, @Fedfireng wrote: “Our men are on the ground, trying to combat the inferno. Thanks for notifying us.”

The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu while commenting on the situation report also noted:
“A combined intervention of the emergency responders, LASEMA Response Team, Eko Hotel, LASG fire, UBA Fire Service, and Federal Fire are able to arrest the fire and stop it from escalating to further the building in the premises’’.