by Oge Okonkwo

Three buildings were burnt to the ground by fire at Oworonsoki area of Lagos, destroying valuables worth millions of naira as the occupants were unable to salvage any of their belongings.

One of the affected buildings,  located at Babasola Anwoju Street,  Oworonsoki belonged to one Kolawole Orofin.

According to a witness who identified himself as Kabiawu Babajide, the General Secretary of Council of Oworonsoki Youth Forum, COYF, said the fire started with an explosion which was heard at about 8:20 pm, adding further that it was caused by the compressor of an air conditioning system, making the fire spread which razed the other two buildings.

PM News reports:

He said officials of the Lagos State Fire Service came late to the scene without enough water, saying that by the time the fire was put out, it had completely burnt the three buildings.

He said officials of the Lagos State Fire Service came late to the scene without enough water, saying that by the time the fire was put out, it had completely burnt the three buildings.

Babajide said there had been agitation for the past four years for the construction of Oworonsoki Fire Service Station along 3rd Mainland Bridge, saying if that had been done, the fire incident could have been tackled easily.

“Residents of Oworonsoki Community, Gbagada, Ifako community, Medina Estate, Sholuyi Estate, Atunrase Estate under Kosofe Local Government and other communities under Bariga Local Council Development Area have suffered several devastating fire disasters which have claimed many lives and properties. We want Oworonsoki Fire Service station to come into existence,” he stated.

He added that COYF had written letters to stakeholders such as Zenon Petroleum company, Chevron Oil and Gas company, GT Bank, Fidelity Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Diamond Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, United Bank for Africa and other banks within Gbagada/Ifako communities to assist in building a fire station for the area but “we are still expecting their response.”

A student of Kwara State Polytechnic, Mrs Temitope Orofin lamented that all her credentials had been razed by the fire and that she was not sure how to get a replacement of her certificates.