NIGERIA – Fire Contained at Bono Energy Terminal in Lagos as Investigation Begins
A fire that broke out on Friday at the Bono Energy Terminal (BEST) in the Coconut area of Olodi Apapa, Lagos, was successfully contained before it could spread to neighbouring petroleum storage facilities, according to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS).
The blaze occurred at the terminal, located within the Ibru Jetty Complex along the Apapa-Oworonshoki Expressway, and engulfed a five-million-litre Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) storage tank. Although no casualties were recorded, authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the incident.
The fire raised concerns due to Apapa’s concentration of fuel depots and other critical industrial facilities, where similar incidents can quickly escalate into major emergencies.
Emergency response
The Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said the agency received a distress call at 12:04 p.m., prompting the deployment of firefighters from the Ajegunle, Sari Iganmu and Isolo fire stations.
Emergency crews arrived at the terminal within 12 minutes and found the five-million-litre diesel storage tank fully engulfed in flames.
According to Ms Adeseye, coordinated efforts by firefighters and emergency response teams from neighbouring oil and gas facilities brought the blaze under control by 1:54 p.m.
She said the swift intervention prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent storage tanks and other critical infrastructure, significantly limiting potential damage.
“The cause of the fire is yet to be determined and is currently under investigation,” she said, adding that no injuries or fatalities were recorded.
Earlier, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Shakiru Amodu, had confirmed that firefighters were actively battling the blaze before the agency later announced that the fire had been completely extinguished.
Officials from the Federal Fire Service and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) arrived at about 4 p.m. Although they were initially denied entry, they were later granted access by the depot’s management.
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