Traders affected by a fire outbreak that destroyed a commercial storey building at Computer Village, Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State, have appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for financial assistance to cushion their losses.
The fire, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at Somoye Street, Ikeja, destroyed goods worth several millions of naira. The affected building housed dealers in computers and accessories, a major commercial hub in the area.
Preliminary findings indicate that the inferno was caused by an electrical surge following the restoration of power supply. No loss of life was recorded, but the upper floor of the building was completely gutted.
When journalists visited the scene on Wednesday, scavengers were seen searching through debris for salvageable items, while affected traders stood by in distress.
Victims said they lost virtually all their investments, including cash, laptops, and other high-value electronic devices. They also called for improved fire safety infrastructure in densely populated commercial centres such as Computer Village.
One of the affected traders, identified as Chucks, said he had just restocked his shop a day before the fire.
“I brought in new goods on Monday, and by Tuesday morning everything was gone. The firefighting equipment was inadequate, and water pressure was too low to combat the fire effectively,” he said.
Appealing to the state government, he added, “We are taxpayers and we meet our obligations. We are begging Governor Sanwo-Olu to assist us with compensation and to better equip the fire service to prevent a recurrence.”
Chucks said about 13 traders were affected in the building and none was able to salvage any item, estimating his personal loss at about N130 million.
Another trader, Ebere Chimosor, said he lost goods worth over N10 million and also appealed for government intervention.
“This incident has nothing to do with tribe. We are simply asking the state and local governments to come to our aid,” he said, noting that the fire service’s efforts helped prevent the situation from worsening.
The Chairman of Ikeja Local Government Area, Akeem Dauda, visited the scene to assess the damage and sympathise with the victims. He assured them of the council’s support and urged business owners to adhere strictly to safety standards, particularly in electrical installations, to prevent future incidents.
