Goods worth millions of naira were destroyed in the early hours of Tuesday when a fire outbreak razed a commercial building on Somoye Osundairo Street, in the heart of Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos.
The incident was confirmed in a preliminary report issued by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
According to the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, emergency distress calls were received at about 1:55 a.m. via the 767 and 112 toll-free lines, triggering the immediate activation of the state’s emergency response mechanism from the Command and Control Centre in Alausa.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene by 2:15 a.m., where they found the upper floor of a one-storey commercial building—occupied by dealers in computers and accessories—fully engulfed in flames.
LASEMA officials reported encountering thick smoke and intense fire, with the blaze spreading rapidly due to the large volume of highly combustible materials stored within the building.
Although no fatalities were recorded, one firefighter from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service sustained minor injuries during the operation and was treated on site by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).
The agency disclosed that the entire upper floor of the building was completely destroyed, along with all goods and property stored there. A preliminary assessment also indicated that the structural integrity of the building has been compromised, necessitating an urgent structural evaluation.
Emergency teams, led by the LASEMA Response Team, cordoned off the affected area and implemented safety measures to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings. After several hours of coordinated firefighting efforts, the blaze was successfully brought under control.
“Firefighting operations have successfully suppressed and contained the fire within the affected structure. Ongoing damping-down activities are being carried out to eliminate residual heat and prevent re-ignition,” LASEMA stated.
The cause of the fire remains unknown and is currently under investigation. LASEMA has recommended a comprehensive probe into the incident, a full structural integrity assessment of the affected building, and a review of fire safety measures in commercial premises across the area.
Agencies involved in the response included LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASAMBUS, and the Nigeria Police Force.
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