Fire Razes Multi-Billion Naira Lagos Waste Transfer Loading Station

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Ignatius Okpara, Latest Headlines, News Thursday, May 1st, 2014

Ayo Balogun, Lagos

Properties estimated multi-million were on Wednesday destroyed as fire razes a part of the Lagos State Waste Transfer Loading Station (TLS) located in Oshodi area of Lagos, Nigeria.

The fire was said to have started around 6.00pm and as at 10.00pm, it was still raging at the house where millions of tyres were being recycled.

Officials of the Lagos State Fire Services, with the support of its counterpart from the federal, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, among others battled endlessly to quell the fire to no avail.

It was further learn t that the fire started as a result of sparks from one of the machines in the section and before it spread to other section, while the millions of tyre in the department served as catalyst to the fire.

Director, Lagos State Fire Services, Mr. Rasak Fadipe said fire officers from the Ilupeju, Ikeja, Iganmu and Isolo were mobilized to help put out the fire but noted that it was getting difficult since heaps of tyres were involved in the fire.

He said since tyres were petrochemical materials, fighting the fire was tedious, but said his men were on top of the situation and that was about three hours after the inferno began.

General Manager, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ola Oresanya turnaround maintenance was being carried out on the TLS when the fire occurred, saying that welding work was being carried out when the gas exploded, leading to the fire.

Spokesperson, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye said that the agency was alerted at about 6:00 am and it responded immediately by mobilizing other emergency agencies for action.

“The fire is spreading fast and lack of water hydrants is affecting the effort to put out the fire. But I have spoken to other agencies in the state to ensure that it was quickly put out,” he said.

TLS which also has a medical waste treatment plant, accommodate waste from hospitals and serve as transit camp for waste generated at its environs such as Oshodi, Mushin, Anthony, Mafoluku, Mile 2, Amuwo-odofin, Okota and Ilupeju.