Lagos Contains Osapa Duplex Fire, Begins Recovery Of Fallen Truck At Costain Bridge

AYOMIDE TIWATAYO, Lagos

The Lagos State Government has confirmed the successful containment of a fire outbreak at a residential duplex in Osapa, Lekki, and ongoing recovery efforts following a fallen articulated truck incident at Costain Bridge.

The incidents, which occurred on Wednesday, were handled by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency alongside other emergency responders.

According to a statement issued by the Head of Public Affairs of LASEMA, Afolabi Olawale, the agency’s Sharks Response Team was activated through the state’s 767 and 112 emergency lines following reports of a fire outbreak at a five-bedroom duplex located at 55A Rasak Eletu Street, Canal Estate, Osapa, in Eti-Osa Local Government Area.

Preliminary investigations traced the cause of the fire to a power surge from an air conditioning unit on the first floor of the building.

LASEMA said the combined efforts of its officials and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service led to the successful extinguishing of the fire without any casualties or injuries.

The agency noted that although the entire top floor and roof of the duplex were destroyed, the ground floor was salvaged due to the swift response of emergency teams, while nearby buildings were protected from the inferno through strategic containment measures.

Following the incident, visible cracks were reportedly discovered on parts of the building’s structural wall, prompting authorities to seal the property pending a structural integrity test by the Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory and the Lagos State Building Control Agency.

In a separate incident, LASEMA’s Cobra Response Team responded to a fallen articulated truck carrying a 40-foot container on Costain Bridge inward Costain.

The agency said preliminary findings showed the truck developed a mechanical fault while ascending the bridge, causing it to roll backwards and overturn, leading to a total blockage of the route.
No casualties or injuries were recorded in the incident.

To ease traffic congestion in the area, LASEMA said it immediately implemented diversion measures in collaboration with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Nigeria Police Force, and the Federal Road Safety Corps.

The agency added that recovery operations were ongoing with the deployment of a private forklift and LASEMA’s low-bed equipment to remove the truck and restore traffic flow.

Commenting on the incidents, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, commended the professionalism and rapid response of all agencies involved.

He said the zero-casualty outcome recorded in both incidents reflected the effectiveness of Lagos State’s emergency response system and ongoing investments in training, equipment, and inter-agency collaboration.

Oke-Osanyintolu also advised residents to regularly maintain electrical appliances and heavy-duty vehicles to prevent avoidable accidents, noting that power surges remain a major cause of fire outbreaks.