PHOTO: RT.comMr Kanayo Chukwumezie, president of the African Arts and Cultural Heritage Association (AACHA) said over 20 shops and arts works were destroyed in the inferno that engulfed the Abuja Arts and Craft village Friday night.
Chukwumezie told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja that the disaster caused a loss of over N400 million.
“We cannot ascertain the cause of the fire.
“When the fire started and the first two shops were burning, our members wanted to rush in to stop the fire, but the security at the gate by National Council for Art and Culture (NCAC) prevented them.
“Before the Fire Service could come, almost all the shops were burnt: they were only able to extinguish the smoke.
“Artists works and other products for Christmas sales worth over N400 million were burnt to ashes,” Chukwumezie said.
He said that the NCAC had promised to put in place a fire service unit at the village to ensure prompt response to fire incidence “but nothing was done.
Abuja craft village inferno: Over 20 shops, craft works worth N400m lost
