The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has called for full-scale investigations into the fire outbreaks that affected parts of the Accountant-General of the Federation’s office and the headquarters of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Abuja.
The NYCN, in a statement signed on Thursday by its President, Mr. Solomon Adodo, said the incidents were regrettable, especially at a time the country was battling with the novel Coronavirus pandemic threatening human existence.
Adodo sympathised with the Federal Government over the unfortunate incidents but noted that thorough investigations were needed to unravel the causes of the fire outbreaks.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that fire recently broke out at the Treasury House, the building housing the AGF’s office in Abuja.
NAN also reports that exactly one week after, another fire outbreak was reported at the headquarters of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), a situation that made many to be suspicious of the coincidence.
However, the NYCN urged Nigerians to be calm and give government the benefit of unraveling the causes of the incidents, even though the AGF had assured that the inferno did not destroy any record.
“We urge the government to do a full-scale investigation, using the right professionals and security agencies to determine exactly what led to the fire incidences.
“If it is a case of sabotage, those guilty should be made to bear the consequences of their dastardly acts, as the fire that gutted particularly the AGF’s office had raised concern in many quarters.
“Some have alleged that funds donated for management of COVID-19 pandemic had been diverted and that the building was set ablaze to destroy documents and records of the social intervention transactions during this period.
“Thankfully, the AGF has come out clearly to say that all the financial documents are intact,” the statement quoted Adodo as saying.
He urged the Federal Government to remain committed to addressing the challenges posed by COVID-19 and ensure that all donations made towards the containment of the pandemic were judiciously and transparently applied.
“We hereby call on the Federal Government to ensure judicious and transparent utilisation of all the donations.
“We also urge government to ensure that the social intervention efforts get to the citizens who truly deserve assistance, particularly the youth, who have been deprived of eking out a living owing to the lockdown,” the statement added.
