The Ondo State Police Command on Monday, September 14, revealed that last week’s fire incident at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in the state was caused by an electrical surge.
1st News had reported that at least 5,000 smart card readers were destroyed by the inferno which razed a container; where the card readers were stored at the commission’s office in Akure, the state capital, last Thursday.
This latest piece of information was disclosed by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bolaji Salami, to journalists at the command headquarters.
Salami also dismissed the insinuation that the fire was caused by saboteurs.
He said: “Investigation into the incident is out. The fire was caused by a faulty electrical connection and all the smart card readers were burnt. The smart cards were kept in two containers on the premises of INEC and also the air conditioners were kept on for 24 hours.
“This will put to rest speculations that the fire was caused by saboteurs. If there are other findings; we will let you know. For now, the major cause is faulty electrical connections.
“This report is final from the fire service. They have the authority to investigate fire incidents in Akure.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, on Monday, September 14, revealed that the populace is experiencing hard times due to the rising costs of food prices.
This assertion by Zainab Ahmed is at variance with claims by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, who said last week that food prices were dropping.
The Finance Minister made this disclosure on NTA’s ‘Good Morning Nigeria’ programme on Monday; confirming the nationwide hike in food prices.
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She, however, said it was unlikely that the prices of food would rise further because of the increase in the price of petrol; adding that most trucks conveying agricultural produce use diesel and not petrol.
Zainab Ahmed said it would be a better alternative if subsidy could be targeted at certain sectors; and not to all Nigerians as was done in the previous regime.
