The Lagos State Government, via the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), has temporarily closed Progressive Estate, Abule Nla, situated on Desalu Street, Iponri, Surulere Local Government. This action follows a recent fire incident, pending an integrity test to be carried out on the structure.
Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, gave the directive, when he visited the site of the fire incident at Block five and six within the Progressive Estate, at the weekend.
Oke-Osanyintolu urged residents to consistently prioritize the safety of their lives and property, advising against storing combustible products at home.
The head of LASEMA reiterated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s dedication to safety, emphasizing that the building would be demolished to ground level if it fails the structural test.
Oke-Osanyintolu encouraged residents to take responsibility for the safety of their lives and properties by adhering to Lagos State safety rules and regulations.
Speaking at the scene of the fire outbreak, he said “it is beneficial to every Lagosian if government warnings are adhered to by the residents to work together with the government in this harmattan season, because this time weather/climate is harsh and conducive for the fire outbreak.”
He stated that there have been a lot of sensitizations and advocacy programmes in Lagos state to ensure safety of residents.
While sympathising with the occupants of Progressive Estate, Oke-Osanyitolu, declared the building as “unsafe to live.
“The team is conducting the secondary survey on the building currently, and directed occupants to move out because it is very unstable.”
While recounting the events leading up to the fire incident, Mr. Shamsideen Lawal, the estate manager, attributed it to an electrical surge originating from one of the flats.
Lawal highlighted that the resident whose house was initially affected, before the fire spread to other units, was on the verge of attempting suicide due to the significant loss of cash and property in his apartment.
During Vanguard’s visit to the site, first responders from various agencies were present to conduct further rescue operations, while remnants of occupants’ belongings were scattered on the ground.
It is worth recalling that a block of six flats in Progressive Estate, Abule Nla, Iponri area of Lagos, was engulfed by fire around 1:30 am on Friday.
Additionally, some affected residents also attributed the fire incident to an electrical surge originating from one of the flats during the early hours.
They mentioned that the explosion of gas cylinders from different flats exacerbated the situation, resulting in roofs being blown off and property worth millions of naira being consumed by the flames.
They lamented the tardy response from the federal fire service in the vicinity before LASEMA intervened to assist them.
At the time of this report, smoke continued to emanate from the rooftops of the flats, while the fire service and other initial responders were present at the scene, working to dampen the site.