A fire outbreak gutted the Nigeria Customs Service Western Marine Command office in Apapa, Lagos, on Monday, September 28, 2026, shortly after Deputy Comptroller of Customs Timothy Jonah resumed at the command, destroying property reportedly worth millions of naira.
The Lagos Customs office fire reportedly started at about 10:23am in the conference room following an electrical surge and subsequently spread to other sections of the building.
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Officers on duty made frantic efforts to contain the flames before personnel from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived at about 10:45am to assist with the firefighting operation.
The incident came at an unfortunate moment for Jonah, who had just resumed at the command to take over from his predecessor.
“I just resumed duty to take over, only to witness this fire outbreak,” Jonah said while reacting to the incident.
Despite the disruption, the deputy comptroller said the situation should prompt the command to strengthen its operations and safety arrangements.
“Every challenge, though negative, is an opportunity to strengthen our operations,” Jonah said.
Jonah also announced that a committee would be established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the outbreak and determine what caused the fire.
“In the meantime, we will set up a committee to investigate the cause of the fire,” he said.
The Customs officer commended personnel who responded to the emergency and worked alongside the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service to prevent the situation from causing further damage.
He said the command would also review its safety protocols as part of efforts to prevent a recurrence.
The full value of the property destroyed had not been independently established at the time of reporting, although the losses were put at millions of naira.
The Western Marine Command is one of the operational commands of the Nigeria Customs Service in Lagos and operates within the state’s busy maritime environment.
The Apapa area is a major hub for Nigeria’s maritime and commercial activities, with Customs personnel involved in trade facilitation, enforcement and anti-smuggling operations.
The fire therefore temporarily disrupted activity at a command whose work forms part of the wider network supporting maritime commerce and border enforcement in Lagos.
The immediate focus is now expected to shift towards assessing the damage, determining the cause of the outbreak and strengthening fire prevention measures at the facility.
For Jonah, who had only just assumed his new responsibility, the incident has created an early test of the command’s emergency response and operational resilience.
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The planned investigation should provide a clearer account of how the fire started and whether electrical faults or other factors contributed to its spread.
Ibrahim Onipede is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
