The Anambra State Fire Service is currently on  intervention at the scene of fire outbreak at Ifejika Street, by Sokoto Road, Onitsha.

It was gathered that the fire which began at one of the buildings at about 6:20am has escalated into a nearby building.

The cause of the fire has yet to be ascertained but residents, passersby and men of the fire service who are already on ground were seen making rescue efforts to salvage some properties and goods from the building.

The head of the Media and Publicity Unit of the Anambra State Fire Service, Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed the incident in a short message on Friday.

Chiketa called on residents and members of the public to remain calm as the firefighters battled to quench the fire.

“Anambra State Fire Service is currently on intervention at the scene of the fire outbreak at Ifejika Street, by Sokoto Road, Onitsha.

“The distress call came at 0620am today, and our firefighters deployed immediately.

“The public is advised to remain calm as the situation is under control,” he added.

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The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency has attributed the cause of the fire that gutted the upper floor of a one-storey building at Agidi Road in the Alapere area of Lagos State to an electrical power surge.

The incident was said to have occurred on Sunday at about 8:55 am.

The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Damilola Oke-Osanyitolu, in a statement, revealed that the fire originated from a kitchen in one of the self-contained apartments.

He noted that the flames spread rapidly, causing significant damage to the affected unit and adjoining apartments on the upper floor.

The statement read, “Upon arrival at the scene, LASEMA’s Tiger Response Team discovered that fire had engulfed the upper floor of a one-storey building, made up of four units of a room self-contained apartments. Fortunately, the fire did not spread to the ground floor of the building.

“Further investigations conducted revealed that the fire originated from one of the kitchens of the flats due to an electrical power surge. The surge caused the inferno to spread rapidly to other parts of the apartment, resulting in significant damage to the other apartments.”

While noting that no casualties or fatalities were recorded due to the incident, the LASEMA boss stated that the agency’s response team and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service successfully contained and extinguished the fire.

According to him, the affected apartment sustained significant structural and material losses due to the inferno while the lower compartment of the building remained unaffected.

He added that safety precautions were implemented to prevent further spread and secondary incidents.

He further disclosed that a search-and-rescue operation was also conducted to ensure no individuals were trapped in the building.

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The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency has confirmed that a one-storey building in the Alapere area of the state was gutted by fire.

The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.

According to him, the agency received distress calls at about 8:55 a.m. regarding the incident at No. 16B, Agidi Road, Osogun Bus Stop, Alapere.

He said LASEMA activated the state’s Emergency Response Plans from its Command and Control Centre in Alausa, Ikeja.

“Upon arrival at the scene, LASEMA discovered that the upper floor of a one-storey building, comprising four self-contained apartments, had been engulfed by fire.

“Fortunately, the inferno did not spread to the ground floor of the building,” he said.

Oke-Osanyintolu said preliminary investigations revealed that the fire originated from one of the kitchens due to an electrical power surge, which rapidly spread to other parts of the apartment, causing significant damage.

“No casualties or fatalities were recorded in the incident.

“The LASEMA Response Team, in collaboration with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, successfully contained and extinguished the fire.

“Necessary safety precautions were implemented to prevent further spread and secondary incidents, while search and rescue operations confirmed that no individuals were trapped,” he added.

He stated that while the affected apartment suffered substantial structural and material losses, the lower floor remained intact.

“The incident has been brought under control, and the inferno has finally been put off. Operation activities have been concluded,” he said.

The Kwara State Fire Service on Thursday saved a middle-aged nursing mother and her child from being killed in an inferno at Awolowo in the Tanke area of Ilorin South Local Government.

City Round gathered that the woman and her one-year-old child were fast asleep when their residence was engulfed in fire but were woken up by the noise of sympathisers who noticed that smoke was ooz out of the house.

However, a sympathiser named Mr Owolabi, who alerted other residents in the area, also informed the state fire service about the inferno.

A statement by the Principal Fire Officer and Head of Media and Publicity of the Service, Hassan Adekunle, said that they received an alert on the fire incident at about 1.45 pm on Thursday.

“On Thursday, March 20th, 2025, at about 13:44 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service received an emergency alert regarding a fire outbreak at No. 8 Aiyegbede Street, Awolowo, Tanke, Ilorin.

“The fire crew responded immediately and swiftly commenced firefighting operations upon arrival. The affected structure was a two-flat residential building consisting of a three-bedroom flat and a two-bedroom flat. Fortunately, only the sitting room of the two-bedroom flat sustained fire damage.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the fire was first noticed by Mr Owolabi, who promptly alerted other residents. Thanks to their quick response, a mother and her child, who were asleep at the time, were rescued unharmed. The incident was traced to a power surge in the area,” the statement said.

City Round gathered that the fire destroyed furniture, electronics and decorations in the sitting room and dining room

The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, sympathised with the affected occupants of the building.

Falade also stressed the importance of fire safety precautions in homes, shops, and other areas of commercial activities at all times.

He commended the residents for their bravery in assisting the victims and encouraged members of the public to always look out for one another in times of emergency.

Residents of the Ilaje Otumara Community, which is part of the Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State, have accused the Lagos State Building Control Agency of demolishing their ancestral homes without notice.

The agency, however, dismissed the allegation as “unfair.”

Speaking on behalf of the residents on Wednesday, the President-General of Egbe Omo Ilaje Worldwide, Iwamitigha Irowainu, condemned the demolitions, stating that they had left many families homeless.

Describing the demolition as “satanic, inhumane, and illegal,” Irowainu revealed that “over 5,000 houses with an estimated population of about 500,000 people” were affected.

According to him, the demolition has devastated the life investments of property owners in the community.

“The President-General and his entourage were held hostage for about three hours before they were rescued by the police. The hoodlums also attacked the invited journalists and chased away the victims of the illegal demolition,” Irowainu recounted.

Irowainu further alleged that “the illegal demolition began on February 11, 2025, when the Lagos State Building Control Agency boss arrived in Otumara Community with armed policemen and some area boys, ordering residents to vacate within three days without prior notice.”

In response to this eviction threat, he noted that “a large number of community members staged a protest at the Governor’s Office in Alausa on February 12, 2025. Through his representative, the governor denied knowledge of any planned demolition in Otumara Community and assured the residents to go about their lawful activities.”

Irowainu has now called on Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to “create an internally displaced persons camp with adequate relief materials to alleviate the suffering of the victims of this illegal demolition.”

Speaking with TheNigerian Metro in a telephone interview on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Adu Ademuyiwa, dismissed the residents’ accusations as unfair, stating that the agency had engaged them in multiple discussions regarding their alleged illegal occupation of the land.

“What they have said is not true. They were staying there illegally. We invited them and held several meetings with them,” Ademuyiwa said. “Ask any of them if they have any documents to prove ownership of the land. We had meetings with them not once, not twice,” he added.

He further said, “We gave them notice since last year and still held meetings with them this year. Even their Baale was present at one of the meetings. I was privy to part of the discussions. For them to claim otherwise, they are not being fair.”

Disputes between the state government and property owners are recurring in Lagos.

In July 2023, the state government carried out demolitions in Oworonshoki.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, stated that the action was necessary to eliminate hoodlums using some of the structures as hideouts.

As building collapses continue to damage the nation’s built environment, the Lagos State Testing and Materials Laboratory (LSMTL) has stressed the urgent need for collaborative efforts to curb the menace.
In her address at the stakeholders forum with market traders and Building artisans across Ojo and Badagry communities on Thursday, the General Manager of Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory Agency, Engineer Olayinka Abdul, said the theme of the collaboration is “fostering collaboration in averting building disasters across Lagos Communities “ underscores the epochal role of the gathering.
She emphasised that the gathering recognised the importance of supporting collaboration among all relevant stakeholders, including market traders and artisans, in combating the challenges posed by building disasters.

Abdul pointed out that, ‘’Our city, Lagos State, is a dynamic bustling Hub of Commerce. Hence, it is the collective responsibility of every one of us—Traders, Artisans, Regulatory Agencies, and Voluntary Organizations—to ensure that our buildings, markets, and workspaces are well constructed and maintained to the highest safety standards.

“Building disasters, as we know, can be devastating—not just in terms of physical loss, but in emotional and psychological trauma as well. They disrupt lives, take lives, and can trigger aggravated, lasting impacts on communities.

“By coming together and sharing our expertise, experiences, and resources, we can pave the way for a safer Lagos without mishaps.

“At this juncture, I want to recount the expanding effects which building collapse has triggered in recent years, one that has grossly reflected the consequences of neglecting building safety—induced collapsed structures that have claimed lives and properties, especially in areas where rapid urbanisation outpaces adequate safety measures.’’

Earlier, the President General of Slaba International Market Amalgamated Traders’ Association, Chief (Dr) Amajuoyi Camilus Nnamdi, promised to have a symbiotic liaison with LSMTL to ensure the fulfilment of its mandate on all construction projects in the market.

The Lagos State Police Command has rescued six children from a building within an estate in the Ejigbo area of the state.

The command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to newsmen on Saturday in Lagos.

He said that on Tuesday at about 12p.m., the police received information that six children were staying alone in a building.

‘The case was transferred from the Ejigbo Police Station to the Gender Unit in Ikeja after reports indicated that the children were left alone in a residential house.

“The children, aged between seven and 13 years, have been rescued and are currently in a protective shelter through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development,’ he said.

Hundeyin said initial findings revealed that their mother was currently abroad for medical treatment and had left them in the care of a caregiver.

The spokesperson added that efforts were underway to contact their mother, and investigations were ongoing to gather more details about the case.

NAN

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A fire outbreak on Sunday night in Ilorin, Kwara State, destroyed a four-bedroom flat, consuming all the property inside.

The incident, which occurred around 8:52 p.m. at Ita-Elepa, Ifesowapo Street, Ilorin, was reportedly caused by a power surge. However, a late alert to the fire service destroyed the bungalow.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Monday, the Head of Media and Publicity for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said, “On Sunday, 16th February 2025, at about 20:52 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service received a distress call reporting a fire outbreak at Ita-Elepa, Ifesowapo Street, Ilorin.

“The fire crew responded swiftly and arrived to find a four-bedroom flat engulfed in flames. Despite their exceptional efforts to contain the fire and prevent its spread to nearby buildings, the entire structure was affected due to the late alert.

“Preliminary investigations identified a power surge as the cause of the fire.”

The owner of the building, AbdulGaniyu Olesin, expressed deep sorrow over the loss, stating that he had lost everything he laboured for.

Olesin, a civil servant in Kwara State and the Head of the Department of Social Studies at the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area, appealed to the government for assistance after the devastating loss.

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Tragedy struck the students of Lagos State University of Science and Technology on Saturday when a newly admitted colleague, Emmanuel Nweke, fell from a two-storey building in the Ikorodu area of the state.

TheNigerian Metro learnt that the incident occurred around 4:00 pm on the balcony of Nweke’s apartment at the Lasunwon First Gate, a predominantly student-populated area.

Grieving colleagues told TheNigerian Metro on Monday that the 100-level mathematics student had stepped onto the first-floor balcony corridor to get some fresh air following a prolonged power outage.

Upon reaching the corridor, Nweke reportedly leaned on the balcony railing, lost balance, and fell from the distressed building, hitting his head on the ground.

Sources in the community told TheNigerian Metro that the deceased, who hailed from Anambra State, passed away before his colleagues could rush him to the nearby general hospital for treatment.

While the entire building was shut down to prevent further incidents, our correspondent learnt that the landlord was immediately taken into custody by operatives of the Ikorodu Police Division on Sagamu Road, opposite Wema Bank, Ikorodu.

Speaking with TheNigerian Metro in a telephone conversation on Monday, a student of the school and vice chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Committee, Sadiq Adams Kiakia, accused the school of negligence for failing to provide accommodation, blaming the lack of housing and stable power supply for the death of the 100-level student.

Kiakia said, “Power supply in the area has been a major issue since the beginning of the year, with barely two hours of electricity available daily. The building is already deteriorating, and he tragically passed away before we could get him to the hospital.

“We urgently need proper accommodation within the school. If there was on-campus housing, Nweke wouldn’t have been staying in that building. Over 20 students lived there, and he (Nweke) had just paid his rent about two weeks ago. We need the school authorities to take immediate action.”

In an earlier statement, the Chairman of NANS JCC Lagos State, Comrade Abdul-Raheem Abdul-Quadri, and the Public Relations Officer, Comrade Ridwan Ajayi, criticised the school management and the state government for their negligence.

The union demanded justice for the deceased and condemned the school’s poor maintenance and lack of oversight in student accommodations, calling the incident a clear example of the ongoing crisis of inadequate and unsafe student housing around LASUSTECH and other tertiary institutions in Lagos State.

“It is deeply concerning that LASUSTECH and the Lagos State Government have failed to provide sufficient on-campus hostel accommodations, forcing students to resort to unsafe and overpriced off-campus options.

“This neglect reflects a severe failure of duty to ensure the welfare and safety of students, and it exacerbates the growing housing crisis within the university community.

“This tragedy is also a reflection of a larger systemic failure in student housing around tertiary institutions in Lagos State. With limited or zero affordable and safe on-campus accommodation, students are forced to rely on substandard and overpriced off-campus alternatives, many of which fail to meet basic safety standards,” the union lamented.

The students called for a comprehensive structural audit of all off-campus hostels around LASUSTECH to identify and shut down unsafe buildings, immediate action by the state government against landlords and hostel operators violating building regulations, and justice for Nweke, holding the hostel management accountable for the negligence that led to his death.

The students stated, “The Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Housing must establish and enforce a minimum safety standard for all student accommodations. Regular safety inspections of private hostels must be conducted to prevent future avoidable tragedies.

“The Lagos State Government and LASUSTECH must take immediate steps to provide affordable, safe, and purpose-built hostel accommodations on campus for students.

“Compensation and support for Emmanuel Nweke’s family: The hostel operators must take full responsibility for this incident, and legal action must be taken against all responsible parties.”

The union hoped that Nweke’s death would “mark a turning point in the fight for safe and affordable student housing.”

When contacted on Monday about the incident and lack of accommodation for LASUSTECH students, the Deputy Director of Public Affairs, at the state Ministry of Education, Mr. Mahmud Hassan, neither picked up his phone nor responded to the WhatsApp message sent to him.

Additionally, when our correspondent contacted the state police command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, on Monday, to inquire about the building owner’s arrest, his phone rang unanswered.

The university’s Dean of Student Affairs, Dr Ademola Aderogba, confirmed the incident to our correspondent, stating that the management was “on top of the situation.”

Regarding the lack of student accommodation, he explained that the issue was beyond the university’s control but assured that the government was already working on a solution.

“It was only three years ago that the state government began introducing hostels within the school premises.

The initiative has already started at Lagos State University, Ojo, through a Public-Private Partnership, with LASU being used as a model for other state-owned institutions. However, the project has yet to commence at our school,” Aderogba added.