NIGERIA: No Casualties as Explosion Triggers Fire at Apapa Tank Farm

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

A fire outbreak triggered by an explosion at the Bono Tank Farm within the Best Energy Tank Farm complex in Apapa, Lagos, caused panic among residents and workers on Friday, forcing many to flee the area as emergency agencies battled to contain the blaze.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday at the Ibafon tank farm cluster after a loud explosion-like sound reverberated across the area, raising fears that the fire could spread to adjoining tank farms and nearby facilities.

Fire service departments of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service were immediately deployed to the scene to contain the fire and prevent further damage.

Confirming the incident, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said, “No casualties had been recorded as of the time of filing this report.”

She added that “firefighters and other emergency responders were fully deployed at the scene to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to adjoining tank farms and other nearby facilities.”

As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the explosion had not been determined, while officials continued efforts to secure the area and prevent further escalation.

Efforts to obtain comments from the management of Bono Tank Farm and Best Energy Tank Farm were unsuccessful, as phone calls and text messages sent to their representatives were neither answered nor acknowledged.