A Mobil Oil Company filling station beside the Airport Hotel in Ikeja has been engulfed by fire due to a gas explosion.
It was learnt that the explosion occurred at about 10:49 am on Thursday, August 8, when a gas tanker was discharging its content into a surface storage tank when it ignited.
Meanwhile, the fire has been brought under control.
The incident caused fear among residents and workers in the area, who were forced to run for their lives and scramble to safety.
Eyewitnesses and emergency service officials on the scene told The Nation that no lives were lost, but many people were injured.
Witnesses also reported that some of the injured were rushed to hospitals in private vehicles and minibusses (Korope) before ambulances arrived.
Jubril Gawat, Senior Special Assistant to the state governor on his “X” handle, shared an update: “Fire is out already. Thanks.”
In a post on X, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said: “At approximately 10:49 AM today, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to a fire incident at the Mobil filling station, Allen Roundabout, near Airport Hotel. The fire involved a gas truck at the filling station, prompting an immediate response from the Alausa and Ikeja Fire Stations.
Upon arrival, the fire crews discovered that a gas truck was discharging its content into a surface storage tank when it ignited. The blaze quickly spread, engulfing eight vehicles, including the tanker itself, and affecting parts of the uppermost floor of a nearby two-storey building.
Several individuals sustained injuries and were transported to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for treatment. The exact number of injuries is still being determined, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
In addition to the swift response from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, other agencies were present at the scene to assist in managing the situation. These agencies include the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC), Mobil Fire Unit from Apapa, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABCA), and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
