3 fire outbreaks in 9 months wreck Okobaba traders

Many residents and several traders who lost everything they owned to the fire outbreak of Wednesday, January 5 at Okobaba, in Ebute-Metta area of Lagos, had seen their properties gutted in a similar way about six months ago. The latest fire incident was the third of such fatal cases in just nine months.

Counting their losses, those affected in the recent fire outbreak put their combined losses at an estimated N400 million. They said in the last nine months they have lost over one billion naira to fire outbreaks in the area.

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The fire of January 5, which started about 11am, razed over 500 properties belonging to about 2,000 traders, majority of whom are struggling to eke out a living by selling planks, keys and nails.

The Okobaba sawmill is one of the biggest sawmills in Nigeria, contributing about 80 to 90 per cent of woods used in Lagos State. Located at the Lagos lagoon in Ebute Metta, the sawmill accommodates over 2, 000 sawmill operators.

The coordinator of the activities of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the South-West Region, Ibrahim Farinloye, said about 40 sawmilling machines, 250 shanties and 200 makeshift houses were destroyed by fire.

But for many traders, the fire outbreak was indeed a horrific reminder of September 2021, when goods were similarly destroyed.

The fire incident of September occurred barely four months after traders had successfully rebuilt and restocked their shops following a similar fire outbreak that occurred in April of the same year. 

A victim said the fire caused untold devastation on Coasts and Kanu streets.  

Ahmed Isiaka, who said he was a former executive member of the market’s association, told our correspondent that he took over the business from his late father. 

He said he grew up in the Okobaba area of Ebute Metta when the place was a swamp. 

“I remember that we had to fill up the bank of the lagoon to create wooden shacks for both sawing of timber and selling of planks. A good number of those who reside in the place are mainly from Ondo and Bayelsa states. This, I think, is so because of their aquatic lifestyle. 

“The market continued to expand as demand for wood increased. After the fire incident in April of 2021, all the traders quickly taxed themselves to rebuild in order not to lose the place.

“We were just settling down when another fire occurred in September, barely four months after the first incident. We have incurred huge financial losses between April 2021 and January 5, 2022.

“Most of the traders reside within. While some of us are plank dealers, others sell other building materials,” he added.

Another trader who identified himself as Taiwo Olaleye, said he recently restocked his shop, ahead of the dry season sales.

“Most people would prefer to build houses during peak dry season as it would be difficult to embark on construction when the rains come. 

“My goods worth over N10 million arrived on January 3 and they all went up in flames. The fire servicemen could have put out the fire, but it took them almost two hours to arrive,” he said.

Another trader, Mrs Yetunde Ewuoso, said she lost items worth N9m to the inferno while Madam Binuyo Olusola said she lost about N5.8m.

On her part, Alhaja Asanike Ebudola, who lamented that she lost N300,000 cash and her goods to the inferno, could not hide her tears.

“I was a victim of a robbery attack about a month ago and just recuperating when this one occurred. I borrowed N1m to put myself in order. Look at what has happened again,” Mrs Ebudola said.

Meanwhile, the state government had unveiled plans to relocate the saw millers at Okobaba to Agbiwa-Ikosi site following the recurrent fire outbreaks.

The Lagos State Government also revealed that it has plans to embark on a comprehensive regeneration of the old site in Ebute Metta.

The State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Idris Salako, said the government was waiting for the relocation to Agbowa timber village before saddling the state’s Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA) with the new task. 

But the saw millers’ relocation remained unresolved, years after the Mainland saw millers’ association signed a memorandum for resettlement in Agbowa, Ikorodu, with the former governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola.