Four buildings collapsed due to a fire that swept through part of Dosunmu Market on Lagos Island yesterday. Ibrahim Farinloye, the Lagos Territorial Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), reported that the fire seriously impacted 14 other buildings in the area. The fire's cause is believed to be the refueling of a running generator, according to sources.
Emergency responders, including NEMA, Federal and State Fire Services, Police, and the fire service of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), were present at the scene. Meanwhile, in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, about 200 shops were razed in a night fire at the Ikom main market yesterday.
Chika Anya, the Chairman of the Lagos Line of the market, stated that the fire was so intense that nothing could be salvaged from the affected shops. Anya also highlighted the recurring nature of such fire incidents, with the state fire service allegedly providing limited support, as witnessed in previous cases.
Augustine Eze, one of the victims, expressed the difficulty in determining the fire's cause, emphasizing that there was no electricity and no one was allowed to stay overnight in the market. Peter Okorebi, Director of the state Fire Service, pledged to investigate the fire's cause and implement preventive measures.
He noted a persistent challenge where shop owners cook in their shops despite repeated safety warnings against such practices. Okorebi also refuted claims that the fire service lacked the necessary facilities to contain fire outbreaks in the area.
