The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has constituted a committee to investigate the cause of a fire outbreak that affected some offices and equipment at its Western Marine Command in Apapa, Lagos.
The committee is expected to determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident and make recommendations to prevent a recurrence, following the fire outbreak at about 10:35 a.m. on Monday.
Speaking on the development on Tuesday, the Acting Customs Public Relations Officer of the Command, Deputy Superintendent of Customs Nwosu Chibunna, confirmed that the fire occurred within the Command’s premises.
She said officers on duty immediately activated the Command’s emergency response protocols and made efforts to contain the fire before personnel of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived at about 11:25 a.m. and successfully brought the situation under control.
According to the statement, “Upon preliminary assessment, it was established that the fire affected some property and office equipment within the Command premises, with thick smoke initially noticed emanating from the newly constructed conference hall. However, the Service confirms that no loss of life or injury was recorded as a result of the incident.”
Chibunna noted that the Command appreciated the prompt response of its officers and personnel of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, noting that their intervention helped to prevent further spread of the fire.
She assured members of the public and stakeholders that the incident had not disrupted the Command’s core operations, which, according to her, have continued as normal.
The Customs spokesperson stressed that the constituted committee would investigate both the immediate and remote causes of the fire and recommend appropriate measures to prevent a recurrence.
She added that the Command would continue to take necessary steps to safeguard its personnel and infrastructure while maintaining safety and security across its facilities.
The Command lauded the cooperation of relevant stakeholders and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high standards of safety, security and operational efficiency across its formations.