A midnight fire on Tuesday destroyed property worth several millions of naira after a one-storey commercial building was gutted in the Ikeja Computer Village area of Lagos.
The incident occurred at No. 3, Osundairo Street, off Medical Road, and affected a building occupied mainly by dealers in computers and accessories. Eyewitnesses said the fire spread rapidly due to the high concentration of combustible materials stored in the premises.
No fatalities were recorded, but a firefighter sustained minor injuries during the operation and received first aid from the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) at the scene.
Emergency responders from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) were mobilised following a distress call and succeeded in containing the fire, preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings.
Preliminary findings indicate that the fire was caused by an electrical surge. The entire upper floor of the building was completely razed, while the structure was partially compromised.
LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said goods and property worth several millions of naira were destroyed in the blaze. He added that the building would require an immediate structural assessment.
“Our response team conducted a risk assessment, cordoned off the affected area and activated safety measures to prevent damage to adjoining structures,” Oke-Osanyintolu said, noting that dampening-down operations were ongoing to prevent re-ignition.
Traders and sympathisers later gathered at the scene, lamenting the losses. A trader identified as John said he lost computer equipment worth millions of naira. “I just restocked my shop. Everything is gone,” he said.
Another trader, Hamed Animashaun, expressed concern over recurring market fires in Lagos, while others called for improved fire safety infrastructure, including mini fire stations and compulsory fire extinguishers in markets.
Authorities said investigations have commenced to determine the exact cause of the fire and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
