A devastating fire broke out at a spare parts market in the Idumota area of Lagos State, destroying property worth millions of naira.

The fire, which occurred late on Friday night, razed multiple buildings used for the sale of automobile spare parts.

According to Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on Saturday, the agency received distress calls at 10:20 PM on Friday, prompting an immediate response from its Emergency Response Teams.

SEE ALSO: Ekiti State Approves N3bn For Land Clearing

By 10:55 PM, LASEMA’s teams arrived at the scene to find the buildings engulfed in flames.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that several structures were affected, though the exact cause of the fire has yet to be determined,” Oke-Osanyintolu stated.

The inferno led to the destruction of goods and properties valued at hundreds of millions of naira, but fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported.

In a coordinated effort to contain the blaze, LASEMA’s Shark and Tiger Response Teams, along with the LASEMA Fire Unit, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Federal Fire Service, worked tirelessly to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.

Law enforcement agencies were also present, ensuring crowd control and public safety at the scene.

Oke-Osanyintolu assured that operations to fully extinguish the fire and salvage valuable items from the affected shops were ongoing.

“The process of dampening down and recovery is in progress to ensure the fire is completely put out,” he added.

While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, authorities are focused on ensuring that the situation does not escalate further.

The Ekiti State Government has greenlit projects valued at over N3 billion, including land clearing for agriculture and the purchase of medical equipment for the multipurpose building at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti.

This approval was secured during the state executive council meeting chaired by Governor Biodun Oyebanji on Friday.

Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, revealed that N3.11 billion has been allocated for procuring and installing medical equipment at EKSUTH, while N223.8 million has been set aside as facilitator’s fees for providing essential equipment for the MSME/ICT hub project.

READ MORE: Fisayo Soyombo Regains Freedom After Three-Day Detention

Additionally, N234.4 million will fund the construction of six new security houses and the renovation of two others across selected farm settlements. In an effort to boost youth involvement in agriculture, the government allocated N264.8 million to clear 200 hectares of land in Ado and Ekiti-West local government areas.

The Youth in Agriculture programme, aimed at enhancing dry-season farming, received N2.35 billion for clearing 1,000 hectares across various locations, including Aramoko, Ogbese, and Iyemero. The 23 vendors handling the projects are expected to deliver within three months to meet the current planting season’s needs.

In a separate development, the state executive council endorsed the Ekiti State Youth Policy for 2024-2028. This comprehensive plan, involving multiple stakeholders, seeks to empower youth for national development.

Moreover, the council repealed the 2021 WASH Sector Law, replacing it with the 2024 WASH Sector Law to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene services in the state.

The Nigerian Army has released investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo after three days of detention, following an intense media campaign calling for his release.

Soyombo, who is the founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), was detained by the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

In a post on social media on Friday, FIJ confirmed Soyombo’s release, stating, “We can confirm that our founder @fisayosoyombo has now been released by @HQNigerianArmy, following the intense media campaign you all mounted.”

RELATED NEWS: Nigerian Journalist Fisayo Soyombo Detained For Exposing Smuggling, Corruption Ties

Earlier, the FIJ had reported that Soyombo had been held by the Nigerian Army for three days. The organization condemned the detention, emphasizing that “Journalism is not a crime,” as it sought to bring attention to the case.

The Nigerian Army, in a statement from Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of the 6 Division Army Public Relations, explained that Soyombo had been arrested at an illegal oil bunkering site.

Danjuma stated that Soyombo, along with other suspects, was being investigated for their alleged involvement in the illicit operation.

However, the FIJ disputed the Army’s claim of Soyombo’s involvement in illegal activities.

“FIJ acknowledges the Nigerian Army’s deliberate mischaracterisation to suggest an involvement in ‘illegal oil bunkering’. FIJ will also address this statement appropriately,” the organization stated in its Friday post.

The Foundation for Investigative Journalism also raised concerns about Soyombo’s safety following his release.

“Our immediate concern is regarding the safety of Fisayo Soyombo in view of extensive information sharing with the Army on his fieldwork during the period of his detention. We are assessing the situation and hoping that his safety will not be jeopardised after release,” FIJ added.