Fire guts Lagos train station

 

A section of the multi-billion naira Blue Rail Mass Transit project at Marina, Lagos State, was, yesterday,  gutted by fire.

It was learnt that the section, which houses a generator used in the facility, was affected by the fire. 

However, no life was lost and no one was injured, as the fire was quickly put out by firefighters from both the Federal and State fire stations, before it could spread to other sections.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident.

He said: "The fire at Marina started from the generator of the Blue Rail Mass Transit. Police patrol teams and the Fire Service were on ground to control the crowd and put out the fire, respectively.

"People are urged to go about their lawful duties and not panic as the situation is under control."

ACF seeks help for victims of Borno market 

fire

Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has commiserated with the Government and people of Borno State over the fire tragedy that affected Monday Market in Maiduguri, and called on the relevant authorities to assist the victims. 

Audu Ogbeh, National Chairman, ACF, in a statement, said: "Nigerians woke up early on Monday to shocking images on national news channels, showing that a massive inferno had engulfed the biggest market in the heart of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. Later, images showed that the entire facility had been reduced to rubble and smouldering ruins. With that, the investment and possibly the only source of livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people have been destroyed.

"For many of the victims of the disaster, their loses are inestimable, and their grief will be hard to mitigate. However, as people of faith, most of them are aware that anything that happened to a human being had been ordained by Almighty Allah. And He is All knowing. May Allah give them the strength of Imaan, trust in the benevolence of God's will, to bear this catastrophe.

"ACF extends its deepest sympathies to the government and people of Borno State, particularly the people who are affected by the calamity. We take particular notice and commend the prompt response of GovernorBabagana Zulum to the calamity, and his immediate reach-out to President Muhammadu Buhari for immediate assistance to the victim. We believe that by the words of sympathy and concerns from the President, the Federal Government too would extend some relief and support to the victims."

"ACF is calling on other authorities and groups, as well as individuals around the country and the world, to come forward and provide similar assistance in any way they can. That is the only way the victims can get back on their feet as quickly as possible.

"The ACF will like to observe the regular occurrences, the impacts, and indeed, the implications of such types of accidents in parts of the North, and for that matter in various parts of the country especially during the Harmattan period, this  should be a matter of serious concern to all. We further observe that while calamities can not be disassociated with acts of God, nonetheless, design faults on these markets and noncompliance with town planning and municipal commercial laws also aggravate the unfortunate situations when they occur.

"Many of the fire outbreaks in our markets that completely destroy huge infrastructure, goods and sometimes lives clearly indicate that building regulations and environmental impact assessments are not being adhered to. Governments must look into these, and any Municipal Authorities found to be negligent in carrying out their statutory duties should be held to account.

"ACF prays to the Almighty God to fasten the alleviation the sufferings of the unfortunate Maiduguri Monday Market fire incident and quickly restore to them what they have lost, even more."

Culled from Vanguard