“This is an unfortunate incident that occurred. We thank God [the fire] was brought under control before it razed down the whole building. Our security operatives are on the issue and, if anybody is found culpable, he’ll be brought to book,” Mr. Maigari said.
The president of the Nigerian Football Federation, Aminu Maigari, has vowed that those behind the fire that engulfed the federation’s headquarters would be identified and prosecuted.
Mr. Maigari made the statement at 11 a.m. while addressing reporters at the headquarters, known as Glass House, which was gutted by fire in the early hours of today. The NFF’s secretary general, Musa Amadu, accompanied Mr. Maigari to the scene of the horrific fire.
The NFF’s chairman also assured Nigerians that the fire would not affect the Nigerian Super Eagles’ preparations for the African Football Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification double header against Congo and South Africa.
“This is an unfortunate incident that occurred. We thank God [the fire] was brought under control before it razed down the whole building. Our security operatives are on the issue and, if anybody is found culpable, he’ll be brought to book,” Mr. Maigari said.
He continued: “This incident will in no way affect Super Eagles Cup of Nations qualification matches which are already in top gear.”
The Nigeria Football Federation office located behind the Federal Road Safety Corps Headquarters (FRSC) at Wuse Zone 7 in Abuja went up in flames this morning. The fire reportedly started around 9 a.m., according to Nigerian fire service officials in Abuja.
The mysterious fire was suspected to have started from the top floor, specifically from the office of the general secretary, Mr. Amadu. A source stated that the office of Mr. Maigari, which is also on the same floor, was also affected.
The NFF has been besieged by a crisis following the World Cup games that held in Brazil in June and July. At the height of the crisis, the Nigerian government suspended Mr. Maigari who was reinstated only after FIFA, the governing body for international football, threatened Nigeria with suspension. The NFF is expected to hold elections into its executive committee next Tuesday.