FIRE GUTS FUEL STATION IN OBAWOLE, LAGOS DURING FUEL OFFLOADING

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

A fuel station located along Old Akute Road in the Obawole area of Iju Ishaga, Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area, was engulfed by fire on Wednesday during the offloading of petrol from a tanker.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident, which triggered panic among residents and commuters in the densely populated area. Eyewitnesses reported that the fire erupted suddenly as fuel was being transferred, spreading rapidly before emergency responders arrived at the scene.

Jubril Gawat, Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, acknowledged the incident via social media, responding to a concerned resident. He noted that preliminary reports suggest the blaze may have originated from a building situated behind the fuel station.

Officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service were promptly deployed to the location and successfully extinguished the fire, preventing further damage and potential casualties.

The extent of the damage and whether there were any injuries or fatalities has not yet been disclosed by authorities. An investigation into the cause of the fire is expected to follow.

According to eyewitness, the incident occured at about 4pm, after a sudden blast rocked the facility, attracting passers-by and residents around K Farms Estate in the council area.

Residents alleged that the inferno started from the underground fuel tanks before spreading to other parts of the station, which prompted the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service to barricade the entrance to prevent human interference in the rescue operations.

Spokesperson for the Lagos Fire and Rescue Service, Shakiru Amodu, said that the inferno was immediately curtailed from spreading to adjoining property.

As at press time, 6pm, emergency responders have put the incident under control as they cordoned off the area.