A fire outbreak on Thursday sent shockwaves through the General Hospital in Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos State, engulfing parts of its three-storey building and sparking fears for the safety of patients, staff, and especially nursing mothers and their newborns.
The incident, which occurred this afternoon, caused pandemonium as thick plumes of black smoke were seen billowing from the hospital complex located on College Road, Ifako-Ijaiye. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with distraught relatives, medical personnel, and residents scrambling in desperation to rescue those inside.
Social media was awash with live footage and appeals for emergency intervention, with users urging authorities and emergency services to respond swiftly. One of the early alerts came from a Facebook user, Modinat Melemuku, who posted a video showing smoke rising from the hospital building. Her caption read, “Happening now at General Hospital Ifako-Ijaiye, College Road. Please repost. Help is needed.”
Though the cause of the fire is yet to be officially determined, unconfirmed sources suggest it may have originated from an electrical fault within one of the upper floors of the building. Eyewitnesses say the fire spread rapidly through parts of the hospital, overwhelming on-site staff who initially attempted to douse the flames with available fire extinguishers.
A hospital staff member, who pleaded anonymity, revealed that the maternity ward was among the areas affected. “We tried to evacuate as many patients as we could. But it was difficult because the fire moved fast. Some mothers were still on their beds with their babies when we ran out,” she said with visible distress.
At the time of filing this report, emergency responders from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service had arrived at the scene and were working tirelessly to bring the situation under control. However, the full extent of the damage was still unclear, and there were growing concerns about possible casualties.
Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) officials also arrived shortly after the blaze intensified, coordinating efforts to ensure a comprehensive evacuation and prevent further escalation. Paramedics were seen attending to affected patients, some of whom were rushed out in wheelchairs and stretchers.
A resident of the area, Mr. Ola Akinwale, described the incident as terrifying. “I was passing by when I saw people shouting and running. The smoke was so thick that we couldn’t see the windows properly. We feared the worst – especially for those in critical condition who might not be able to move on their own,” he recounted.
No official casualty figure had been released by press time. However, many fear that some individuals, particularly those in the maternity and neonatal wards, may have been caught up in the inferno before help arrived.
Spokesperson for the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Amodu Shakiru, confirmed the incident in a brief statement. “We received a distress call this afternoon about a fire at Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital. Our operatives are on ground containing the situation. Further details will be communicated after assessment,” he said.
The Lagos State Ministry of Health is also expected to issue an official statement in the coming hours, with reports indicating that a delegation from the ministry has been dispatched to assess the situation and support the hospital’s management.
Meanwhile, concerned Nigerians have taken to social media to express dismay over the incident, questioning the preparedness of public health facilities for emergencies. Some users also raised concerns about the apparent lack of functioning fire alarms and emergency exits in public hospitals.
“It is heartbreaking that in 2025, our hospitals still lack the basic infrastructure to prevent or manage fires. Where are the fire drills, the smoke detectors, or the sprinkler systems?” one X (formerly Twitter) user posted.
This incident has once again brought to the fore the urgent need for comprehensive safety audits across healthcare institutions in Nigeria. Stakeholders in the health sector have repeatedly called for improved infrastructure, routine emergency preparedness training, and robust safety regulations to safeguard the lives of patients and medical workers alike.
As investigations into the cause of the fire continue, many await reassurance from the state government on what steps will be taken to prevent such tragedies from recurring. For now, the priority remains accounting for all those who were in the building at the time of the incident and ensuring they receive the necessary medical and psychological support.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
