NPA puts out fire outbreak from cargo ship at Lagos Port

Maureen Aguta

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in response to an alarm received by its Marine Division, has saved a cargo vessel from being totally consumed by fire at Lagos Port Complex, Apapa.

The authority disclosed in a statement that the incident happened at about 15:00 hours on Friday when a cargo ship, laden with CNG trucks, wooden products, tyres and other highly combustible products was being consumed by fire.

According to NPA’s General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Ikechukwu Onyemekara, the NPA emergency preparedness mechanism was immediately activated to avert what would have resulted in huge investment losses at one of the port’s terminals.

He noted that the NPA fire service department immediately deployed it’s state-of-the-art firefighting equipment in concert with the NPA tugboats, whose fire-fighting capability helped to combat the fire from the seaside, while the NPA firefighters with the collaboration of the terminal’s fire team, Dangote Fire Team and the Lagos State Fire Service Team contained it from the land side.

Onyemekara said: “Authority wishes to appreciate the Dangote Group Fire Team and Lagos State Fire Service for their collaborative support. The authority wishes to assure all Stakeholders’ that the situation is now under control and reiterate its relentless commitment to promoting the culture of safety and continuous improvement in emergency preparedness.”