Lagos - No fewer than 150 shops and goods worth millions of Naira were Sunday razed by fire at the Trinity spare parts market in Olodi Apapa area of Lagos State.

Vanguard gathered that the fire which started around 3:24 p.m., might have been caused by an electrical power surge in one of the shops on 'B' line of the plaza.

Eyewitnesses who spoke to Vanguard confirmed that at first a thick smoke was spotted bellowing from one shop in 'B' line as Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, restored power in the afternoon before finally degenerating into an inferno that engulfed the entire Speed Well Plaza.


The plaza is said to house over 200 shops dealing on motor spare parts. An eyewitness and a resident in the area who identified himself as Amechi, told Vanguard that "this whole incident started when PHCN restored power here around 1.00p.m.

Not long after that, I saw a thick smoke coming from one of the shops on B line but I didn't know the fire was going to be this big and spread to other parts of the plaza. Now the destruction is wanton."

Meanwhile, some of the affected traders who could talk to Vanguard, expressed shock at the sudden inferno, lamenting that with the level of destruction, it would only take quick government intervention to help them get back to business again.

For instance, one of the affected traders, Mr. Izuchukwu Agwu, lamented: "I am finished. As you are seeing me here, I have lost everything I have to this fire incident.

"Unless something is done, I am heading back to the village and you know what it means – suicide. I sleep in my shop and I have no other business here."

"I was lucky not to have been in there when the fire started; who knows, I might have got burnt. Now, what else do I have, I am heading back to the village tonight." .

Meanwhile, policemen from Trinity Police Station were seen around the plaza providing security, while fire fighters from the Lagos State fire Service and those from Julius Berger Plc were struggling to put the fire out.

However, Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, saidthe fire which occurred at 3:24 p.m. was fuelled by the inflammables materials stored in the over 95 shops in the complex.

jaeik007:
For instance, one of the affected traders, Mr. Izuchukwu Agwu, lamented: "I am finished. As you are seeing me here, I have lost everything I have to this fire incident.

"Unless something is done, I am heading back to the village and you know what it means – suicide. I sleep in my shop and I have no other business here."

"I was lucky not to have been in there when the fire started; who knows, I might have got burnt. Now, what else do I have, I am heading back to the village tonight." .

Sorry for you loss!!!

I agree, you may have to go back to the village, but try to get help from your kinsmen in Lagos. If they can't help you, go back. That's better than engaging in criminal activities out of frustration.

jaeik007: However, Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, saidthe fire which occurred at 3:24 p.m. was fuelled by the inflammables materials stored in the over 95 shops in the complex.

I hope they learn their lessons...

Garri the 1st:

Sorry for you loss!!!

I agree, you may have to go back to the village, but try to get help from your kinsmen in Lagos. If they can't help you, go back. That's better than engaging in criminal activities out of frustration.


I hope they learn their lessons...

^^^You're a first grade undiluted bastard! A hateful bigot of your kind is always quick to turn every post into a rant against the people you so despise. Where in the article did the guy say he's going to engage in criminal activity?; or you feel he may do so b'cos he's Igbo?

You claim you're not Yoruba, so why are you excited over the fact he says he may leave Lagos, and why are you egging him on to leave?

What lessons are you talking of that need to be learnt?; a guy was engaging in legitimate business......his business got razed by fire and you imply that it serves him right and that he should learn his lesson from this!......is the lesson that as an Igbo man he should leave Lagos and go to the South East?

Pathetic scum!

Garri the 1st:

Sorry for you loss!!!

I agree, you may have to go back to the village, but try to get help from your kinsmen in Lagos. If they can't help you, go back. That's better than engaging in criminal activities out of frustration.




I hope they learn their lessons...

you see your life?