The inferno, which broke out around 1:55am, affected a building largely occupied by dealers in computers and related accessories, heightening concerns over the recurring fire incidents in the country’s largest technology hub
A raging fire in the early hours of Tuesday razed a one-storey commercial building on Somoye Osundairo Street in the heart of Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos State, destroying computers and accessories worth millions of naira.
The inferno, which broke out around 1:55am, affected a building largely occupied by dealers in computers and related accessories, heightening concerns over the recurring fire incidents in the country’s largest technology hub.
According to a preliminary incident report by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), distress calls were received through the 767/112 toll-free emergency lines, prompting the immediate activation of the state’s emergency response plan from its Command and Control Centre in Alausa, Ikeja.
LASEMA stated that its response team arrived at the scene at about 2:15am and encountered intense flames and thick smoke billowing from the building, indicating that the fire was already well advanced.
“The fire outbreak occurred in a one-storey commercial building occupied by dealers in computers and accessories. The high volume of combustible materials contributed to the rapid spread of the fire,” the agency said in a statement signed by its Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu.
While the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, LASEMA confirmed that investigations are underway to establish the source of the incident.
No fatalities were recorded. However, one firefighter from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service sustained minor injuries during the operation and was treated at the scene by officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).
The agency said the entire upper floor of the building was completely destroyed, with all goods stored there consumed by the flames.
Preliminary assessments also showed that the structure had been partially compromised, raising safety concerns and the need for urgent structural integrity tests.
Emergency responders cordoned off the area to prevent further danger and activated safety measures to stop the fire from spreading to nearby buildings in the densely populated commercial district.
LASEMA noted that the prompt and coordinated response of multiple agencies helped to contain the blaze and prevent a wider disaster in Computer Village, an area known for congested buildings and poor safety compliance.
Firefighting operations have since been concluded, while damping-down exercises continue to eliminate residual heat and prevent re-ignition. Rescue and recovery efforts have also been completed.
The agency recommended a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire, a comprehensive structural assessment of the affected building, and a review of fire safety measures and storage practices across Computer Village and similar commercial centres.
Agencies at the scene included LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASAMBUS, and the Nigeria Police Force.
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