Fire Razes Shops, Building In Ogba

By Harmony Ezenwa

Not less than thirteen shops, a building and a shopping plaza have been razed in a fire incident which occurred in the Ogba area of Lagos today.

The fire which began at about 2.40 pm affected a range of outlets on the Ijaiye road, opposite the Excellence Hotel right in front of a LASTMA traffic post in the area.

Eyewitnesses told The Eagle that the fire started from a spark on an electric pole where some officials of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) were effecting repairs, and quickly spread to nearby shops and houses, especially a gas shop..

A fire fighting truck arrived the spot some thirty minutes afterwards, but unfortunately did not have water to quench the fire.

Before four other trucks with fire extinguishers could come, the fire had done great damage.

A victim, Adekoya Bukola Victoria, told our reporter in an interview that she was in one of the shops to make her hair when she heard an explosion.

In confusion, she took the back exit but the fire met her, burning part of her hand.

She said she also lost her documents, phones and handbag in the inferno.

According to Victoria the fire would have been contained had there been fire extinguishers in the shops.

Another eye witness who did not tell her name, said a shop attendant was emptying fuel into a running generating set, and that, this helped the fire to spread to other nearby shops.

There was confusing around Ogba as the inferno lasted, many people racing to the scene to see things for themselves.

However, most did not react meaningfully in containing the fire.

Some people were wondering why it was difficult for shop owners in their facilities in case of incidents of this nature, rather than having to rely on the fire service.