By Sodiq Adelakun
Goods valued at several millions of naira were destroyed in the early hours of Tuesday after a fire engulfed a storey commercial building in the Computer Village area of Ikeja, Lagos State.
The incident occurred around 1:55 a.m. at a building located on Somoye Osundairo Street, prompting the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) to activate its emergency response system from its Command and Control Centre in Alausa.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, LASEMA said its response team arrived to meet a raging inferno at a one-storey commercial structure occupied by dealers in computers and related accessories.
The agency noted that heavy flames and thick smoke were observed on arrival, indicating intense combustion within the building.
According to LASEMA, the rapid spread of the fire was worsened by the presence of highly combustible materials stored inside the building.
Although no lives were lost, a few firefighters reportedly sustained minor injuries while battling the blaze.
The agency confirmed that the entire upper floor of the building was completely gutted, with all goods and property stored there destroyed. The structure was also partially affected and would require a comprehensive safety assessment.
LASEMA added that the affected area was immediately secured, while a joint response involving the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASAMBUS, and the Nigeria Police Force was coordinated to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.
While the fire was successfully brought under control and confined to the affected structure, damping-down operations were ongoing to prevent re-ignition.
The cause of the fire remains unknown and is currently under investigation.
