By Uzor Odigbo
Occupants of the popular Ibru building along Creek Road Apapa,Lagos are currently counting their losses over Saturday’s fire outbreak that destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
The three storey building located at no. 33 Creek Road it was gathered was gutted by fire due to an electrical spark that led to the fire outbreak.
A cross section of occupants said the fire lasted for about two hours before it was put off by officials of the Lagos State Fire services and other neighbouring organisations along Creek Road ,.Apapa.
One of the occupant, Comrade Matthew Alalade who spoke with our correspondent exclusively, lamented that the Federal Fire Service was on the ground at the initial stage of the inferno but could not combat the fire due to obsolete equipment at their disposal.
He said the timely Interventions by the federal fire service yielded no positive results.
Alalade, a former National President, Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association lamented that the ill-equipped Federal Fire Service allegedly worsen the situation as most of the people on ground relied heavily on them.
However, Alalade noted that the operatives of the Lagos State Fire Service came to the rescue with professional touch to put off the fire.
According to him, the Federal Government needs to step up and equip the fire department in order for personnel to perform better.
He added that the approach of operatives from the federal government service providers on Saturday’s fire incident was disgraceful, appalling and shameful.
He also lauded personnel from the state fire service for a wonderful job.
Alalade said ” The fire occurred on Saturday’s afternoon. We believe it was caused by electrical spark from one of the offices and no body was in office.”
He explained that properties worth millions were destroyed in the incident and some section of the building was completely destroyed