NEMA: 450 Shops, 6,700 Traders Affected by Mandilas Fire

Sunday Ehigiator

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has revealed that no fewer than 450 shops, 6,700 traders, 30 offices, two hotels and five restaurants were affected by the fire incident which gutted Mandilas building on Sunday

In a statement from NEMA, appealed to Nigerians to be safety conscious in their activities to protect their lives and property.

The Agency made the appeal while assessing the impacts of the last Sunday fire disaster that occurred at the 16th-floor old Mandalas building.

“The impacted traders are estimated to accommodate about 6,700 traders, 450 shops, 30 offices, 2 hotels, and 5 restaurants according to the Iya Oja of the  Atunwase International Market Mandilas General, Alhaja Adeniji Rashidat who briefed the assessors.

“The fire which started at about 00:11 hours began on the first floor where an alleged electric wielding activity was going on. It was alleged that the people around did not notice the fire until it was too late before the fire service was contacted.

“The fire, also, spread to surrounding market stalls at Atunwase International Market with equal extensive damages as the main complex.

“However, officials of Lagos State Safety Commission and Building Control Agency were on the ground assessing the integrity of all buildings at the scene. All structures have been locked down to prevent access to the shop for the safety of traders and the public.

“Other Agencies on the ground today are Lagos State Building Control Agency, Lagos Fire services, Red Cross, Nigeria Police, Neighbourhood Watch, Lagos Island Local Government Sanitation, and Lagos State Business District are currently making efforts at making the scene safer for people.”