Two separate fire incidents have destroyed production facilities in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, leaving properties worth millions of naira damaged.

One of the incidents occurred late Friday night at Kunzol Multi-Sector Nigeria Limited, a yam flour and garri production factory located in the Kilanko–Agbonka area of the Ilorin South Local Government.

It was learnt that the fire, which started at about 10:10 p.m., was triggered by heat from a furnace used during production, which later ignited combustible materials in the factory.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Saturday, the Head of Media and Publicity, Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said the factory’s entire production area was already ablaze before firefighters arrived.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the fire was triggered by remnants of unquenched fire, which ignited combustible materials in close proximity, leading to rapid escalation,” Adekunle said.

He added that firefighters battled the inferno and prevented it from spreading to nearby buildings, thereby averting what could have been a wider industrial disaster.

The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, warned factory operators to ensure proper shutdown of heat sources at the close of work.

“Negligence with fire remnants remains a leading cause of avoidable industrial fires. Business premises must adopt strict fire-safety procedures,” he added.

The second incident was an early-morning fire on Saturday that gutted Unik AJ Prints, a printing facility along Opomalu Road in the Ilorin East Local Government Area.

The fire, which occurred around 3:15 a.m. according to eyewitnesses, affected a storey building housing two large halls, including printing machines, inverter units, and other production materials.

Firefighters, according to Adekunle, responded promptly despite the challenging early-morning conditions.

“Their swift and determined efforts successfully prevented the fire from spreading to adjoining structures, averting further damage in the densely built area,” he said.

Preliminary findings showed that the blaze was likely caused by a spark from the facility’s inverter system, which ignited nearby flammable materials.

Commenting on the second incident, Falade advised businesses using solar and inverter systems to install them in isolated, fire-protected environments.

“We urge residents to adopt fire-retardant materials and ensure proper installation of alternative power systems to reduce risks,” he stated.

The Kwara State Fire Service reiterated its commitment to ensuring public safety and rapid emergency response across the state. (Channels TV)