Fire guts Lagos annex of National Assembly...Jibrn, Dogara feared burnt?

THE National Assembly, Lagos Annex, located Tafawa Balewa Square, in Lagos Central Business District, CBD, was yesterday gutted by fire, destroying properties worth millions of Naira. Vanguard gathered that the fire started from the fourth floor of the 8-storey building.

It was learned that the partitioning of the structure that housed Second Republic lawmakers affected efforts of the state’s fire fighting officials assisted by Julius Berger Plc, in putting out the fire immediately. Sources said occupants of the building were still in their offices when the fire started. 

A fire official disclosed to Vanguard that “it is difficult fighting fire in the building. In fact, due to the enormity of the fire, as some of the glasses had started falling.” Mr. Michael Adewale, a trader, said: “We saw thick smoke coming out from the building and suspected that it was fire outbreak. So we called emergency numbers.” 

Five hours after the inferno, officials of the state fire service were still battling to put out the fire. Confirming the incident, Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, last night said: “We are yet to put out the fire completely. “When we arrived, we discovered that the building was a glass house and the fire was well alight. 

Three floors were heavily engulfed by smoke and we had challenges gaining access to the building. “The building was heavily burglar-proof, so we had that challenge, too. But at the end of the day, we were able to cut the burglar proof, although many of our firemen sustained injuries.” 

Fadipe said he had deployed four fire trucks with aerial ladder to the scene from Ilupeju, Alausa and Sari-Iganmu fire stations.