The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, said no fewer than 250 shanties, 200 makeshift buildings, and 40 sawmilling machines were burnt down in a morning fire at Oko-Baba in the Ebute-Metta area of Lagos.

Ibrahim Farinloye, Zonal Coordinator (South-West) of NEMA, confirmed this to journalists on Wednesday.

Mr Farinloye said the fire began at 11.40 a.m. but was put out by the combined efforts of the Federal Fire Service, Lagos State Fire Service, and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency.

Speaking on the fire incident, the director-general of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye said the Oko-Baba inferno was yet another episode in the myriads of fire emergencies since the turn of the year.

“The year have started on a rather frenzy note of fire as the 19th emergency call was received in just five days into the new year today, Wednesday, 11:04 hours to Kano Street, Oko Baba, Ebute Meta, Lagos,” Ms Adeseye said.

She, however, said with concerted efforts of emergency responders, the fire was eventually contained after substantial damage had been done. 

“Concerted efforts from emergency responders are also called for back up as the shanties Saw Mill Fire spread due to the dryness of the combustible substances involved over an expanse vast land sweeping through Kano and Coates Streets.

“The public should however be rest assured that the Fire has been curtailed from spreading further and poses no threat to life and further damages,” she said 

Ms Adeseye added that “no life or injury has been reported as the course of the Fire would be unravel as soon Firefighting is concluded.”