Seven luxury buses and six mini buses were lost by G.U.O. Transport Company Ltd during an inferno in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Monday.

It was also learnt that other property worth about one billion naira were destroyed.

The incident occurred at the headquarters of the company near the former toll gate, at the Ogbunike axis of Onitsha-Enugu Expressway.

Although the Chairman of the company, Chief Godwin Okeke, could not be reached, G.U.O.'s spokesman Augustine Okigbo described the incident as unfortunate.

Conducting reporters round the company, he said the fire started about 5pm and was caused by an explosion, which occurred when a tanker was discharging diesel into a ground tank.

Okigbo said workers and sympathisers attempted to put it out before men of the Anambra State Fire Service from Okpoko and Onitsha Main Market arrived.

He said although they tried to stop the fire, they were handicapped by lack of equipment.

Okigbo urged the government to equip G.U.O. and other companies with fire-fighting equipment.

He confirmed that the company incurred losses and appealed to customers not to panic, as the company would render quality services as usual.‎