A Fire Razes Ajah Market and Three Radio Stations in Nigeria
During the evening of Sunday, a devastating fire swept through the Ajah Market near Alesh Bus Stop in Lagos’ Lekki area, resulting in significant financial losses. The fire, which began around 9 pm, rapidly spread throughout the market, claiming numerous shops filled with flammable materials.
In response, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services worked together quickly to contain the blaze. Thankfully, no lives were lost, and no injuries were reported, as the market was closed for the day, and traders were not on site.
Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, explained that the LASEMA Response Team and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service collaborated to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings. Efforts are ongoing to fully extinguish the fire and salvage remaining valuables.
In another incident, on the same evening, a fire gutted three radio stations in Aba, Abia State, leaving millions of nairs worth of electronic broadcasting equipment in ashes. The affected stations, Enyimba 94.3 FM, Rose 101.9 FM, and Legend 98.3 FM, are located on Margret Avenue, off the PZ axis of the Aba-Owerri Road in the Aba North local government area.
Although the stations are independent, they share the same building, allowing the fire to spread rapidly among them. Fortunately, the Abia State Fire Service managed to contain the blaze, preventing it from affecting neighboring buildings.
According to a staff member, the fire started in the television section of Enyimba TV and Radio Limited, the parent company for the three stations, before spreading to the other stations. The blaze destroyed all broadcasting equipment, but no lives were lost.
In an official statement, Enyimba TV and Radio Limited announced that it is investigating the cause of the fire and has temporarily suspended operations at the three stations to assess the damage and implement preventive measures.
A firefighter from the Abia State Fire Service, speaking on the condition of anonymity, urged business owners to invest in fire extinguishers and hydrants to help control fires in times of emergency.
The incident has left a significant void in Aba’s broadcasting space, with listeners in the area eagerly awaiting further updates from the stations on resuming broadcasts.
