Documents destroyed as fire guts Customs office in Lagos

A devastating fire engulfed the Nigeria Customs Service's Western Marine Command office in Apapa, Lagos on Monday, resulting in extensive property damage and the loss of crucial documents. The inferno, which ignited around 10:23am following an electrical surge in the conference room, rapidly spread to other areas of the building. Officers on duty worked tirelessly to control the flames, but it was not until 10:45am that the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service personnel arrived to assist in the firefighting efforts.

The unfortunate incident took place shortly after Timothy Jonah, the new Deputy Comptroller of the command, assumed his duties, replacing his predecessor. Jonah expressed his disappointment, stating, "I just assumed duty to take over, only to witness this fire outbreak." He acknowledged that challenges, while negative, can serve as opportunities to enhance operations. Jonah vowed to establish a committee to investigate the cause of the fire and vowed to bolster the command's safety protocols to prevent future occurrences.

As of the time of this report, the full extent of the damage had not yet been determined.