Twin fires destroy Lagos multi-million-naira goods

Two separate fire incidents in the Ikorodu and Surulere areas of Lagos State have destroyed goods and property worth millions of naira, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency has said.

The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

Oke-Osanyintolu said the first incident occurred at Adamo Bus Stop, Ikorodu, in the early hours of Monday when a fire, suspected to have been caused by faulty electrical wiring, spread from a hairdressing shop to adjoining shops.

He said three shops were affected, with goods and property worth millions of naira destroyed.

According to him, responders from LASEMA and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Imota, swiftly brought the fire under control and completely extinguished it.

He said, “Preliminary findings revealed that the fire originated from a spark from electrical wiring which ignited the roof of a hairdressing shop and spread to adjoining shops.”

He added that dampening-down operations were carried out to prevent a re-ignition, noting that no death or injury was recorded.

In another incident on Monday morning, Oke-Osanyintolu said two shops dealing in furniture and provisions were gutted by fire at 19 Olatunde Onimole Street, by Bakery Bus Stop, Surulere.

He said the cause of the fire had yet to be ascertained, adding that both shops were completely razed and their contents destroyed.

The permanent secretary, however, said no casualty or injury was recorded, while dampening-down operations were conducted to prevent a resurgence of the fire.

Meanwhile, Oke-Osanyintolu said LASEMA teams also responded to a series of road-related emergencies across the state between Sunday and Monday.

He said the agency’s Alpha Eagle Response Team from the Cappa, Oshodi LASEMA Response Unit responded to a truck breakdown at Olupese Bus Stop, inward Cappa, on Sunday afternoon.

• NITDA seeks more investment in data centres
• Embrace discipline, excellence, principal urges students
• PHOTONEWS: BoI, RMB Nigeria executives at N274.18bn bond issuance ceremony in Lagos

According to him, the truck, with registration number T-12930LA, was conveying soft drinks when a mechanical fault left it immobile and obstructed traffic.

He said the team diverted traffic while coordinating with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the Nigeria Police to clear the obstruction with the agency’s heavy-duty Super Metro equipment.

“The truck was successfully recovered to a lay-by, restoring free flow of traffic,” he said.

Also on Sunday, the LASEMA boss said the LRT Tiger Squad at C3 responded to a road traffic accident on the Third Mainland Bridge, inward Obalende, where a yellow commercial bus overturned following a reported tyre burst.

Oke-Osanyintolu said the vehicle had been towed to the LASTMA yard at Olowu, while LASEMA paramedics and LASAMBUS personnel provided immediate medical attention to the victims.

He added that in the early hours of Monday, the LASEMA Alpha Eagle Team was deployed to Ilupeju Road, inward Cappa, following a tanker breakdown.

The permanent secretary said an empty tanker with an unknown registration number had developed a mechanical fault and obstructed traffic.

He said the tanker was evacuated to a nearby lay-by with the support of the Nigeria Police and the agency’s Super Metro recovery equipment, restoring normal traffic flow.

Oke-Osanyintolu commended the professionalism and coordination of the emergency responders, including LASTMA, LASAMBUS, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Nigeria Police and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps.

He said, “The Lagos State Government remains committed to protecting lives and property through continuous investment in personnel training, modern equipment, and the decentralisation of LASEMA Response Units to ensure a world-class emergency response time.”

The permanent secretary urged residents to prioritise vehicle maintenance and adhere strictly to electrical safety standards.