Fire Destroys Customs Western Marine Command Office in Lagos
A fire has gutted the Nigeria Customs Service Western Marine Command office in Apapa, Lagos, destroying property worth millions of naira.
The incident occurred on Monday, September 28, 2026, with the fire reportedly starting at about 10:23am following an electrical surge in the conference room.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the fire spread from the conference room to other sections of the building.
Officers on duty initially made efforts to contain the blaze before personnel from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived at about 10:45am to assist with the firefighting operation.
The incident occurred shortly after Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Timothy Jonah, resumed at the command to take over from his predecessor.
Jonah described the fire outbreak as unfortunate, saying he had just resumed duty when he was confronted with the incident.
He said the situation, despite its negative impact, presented an opportunity for the command to strengthen its operations.
The Customs officer also announced that a committee would be established to investigate the cause of the fire.
Jonah commended the officers who responded to the incident and worked with the fire service to contain the situation.
He said measures would also be taken to strengthen safety protocols at the command and prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future.
The fire affected the Western Marine Command office in Apapa, one of the facilities operated by the Nigeria Customs Service in Lagos.
Authorities are expected to determine the full extent of the damage as part of the investigation into the incident.
The planned investigation will also establish the circumstances surrounding the reported electrical surge and identify measures that could help prevent future fire outbreaks at the facility.
The incident again highlights the importance of effective electrical systems, fire prevention measures and emergency response arrangements in public buildings and operational facilities.
