An electrical surge triggered a fire at the Nigeria Customs Service Western Marine Command in Apapa, Lagos, destroying key administrative spaces just as a new leadership team assumed duty.
An early-morning electrical spark in an administrative facility quickly escalated into a major fire at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Western Marine Command headquarters in Ibafon, Apapa, Lagos, destroying equipment and official property valued in the millions of naira.
The incident unfolded on Monday, September 28, around 10:20 a.m., just as the newly appointed head of the command was preparing to assume duty. Smoke was first detected emerging from the command’s primary conference room. Preliminary findings indicate that a sharp voltage fluctuation triggered a short circuit inside the conference suite. Within minutes, the flames caught onto office furnishings and electrical conduit wiring, sending thick grey plumes through the upper levels of the operational building.
Officers on duty responded immediately, utilising handheld fire extinguishers to establish a temporary perimeter and prevent the blaze from reaching nearby documentation storage areas. Emergency responders from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived at the scene around 10:43 a.m., working alongside maritime customs personnel to contain the outbreak and prevent it from spreading to surrounding port infrastructure.
The blaze occurred during an official transition of leadership at the Western Marine Command. Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Timothy Jonah, had arrived at the facility to formally take over leadership from outgoing Comptroller Patrick Ntadi when the emergency was declared.
Speaking shortly after responders brought the flames under control, Deputy Comptroller Jonah confirmed that an investigative panel would be constituted immediately to audit the facility’s electrical infrastructure and establish the full scope of structural and material loss.
“I just resumed duty to take over, only to witness this fire outbreak,” Jonah said. “Every challenge, though negative, is an opportunity to strengthen our operations. In the meantime, we will set up a committee to investigate the cause of the fire.”
While no fatalities or severe personnel injuries were reported, the command’s main meeting space and several adjoining administrative sections suffered extensive physical damage. Customs authorities confirmed that an operational review is underway to upgrade fire safety measures, assess structural integrity, and modernise electrical surge protection systems across all command facilities in Lagos State.