Residents of Lagos were thrown into panic on Wednesday as two separate fire incidents broke out in different parts of the state, including a fuel station in Ifako-Ijaiye and a commercial building in Victoria Island.
The first incident occurred around 4:00 pm at a fuel station located along Old Akute Road in Obawole, Iju-Ishaga, within the Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area. Eyewitnesses reported that the fire started with a sudden blast from the underground fuel tanks before spreading rapidly across the station. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service promptly responded to the scene.
Jubril Gawat, Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, confirmed the incident via social media and stated that emergency officials were on ground. He also noted that the fire may have originated from a building behind the station, further heightening panic among residents and motorists who fled in different directions.
Spokesperson for the Lagos Fire and Rescue Service, Shakiru Amodu, revealed that the fire was successfully contained before it could spread to nearby properties. The entire area was cordoned off as a precautionary measure while emergency responders worked to manage the situation.
Just hours later, another fire broke out around 5:22 pm at a commercial building opposite Silverbird Galleria on Amodu Bello Way, Victoria Island. According to Amodu, the fire service received the emergency call and dispatched a response team from Oniru, which arrived 22 minutes later, despite traffic delays in the area.
The fire in Victoria Island was also brought under control, with efforts focused on preventing its spread to adjoining structures. Fortunately, no lives were lost in either of the incidents.
Both fire outbreaks caused panic among residents and disrupted normal activities in the affected areas. Authorities have urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with emergency services as investigations into the causes of the fires continue.
