A fire outbreak has gutted the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Western Marine Command office in Apapa, Lagos, destroying property and office equipment reportedly worth millions of naira.
The incident occurred on Monday, September 28, 2026, at about 10:23 a.m., with reports indicating that the fire started following an electrical surge in the conference room before spreading to other sections of the building.
Officers on duty reportedly made efforts to contain the blaze before personnel of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived at about 10:45 a.m. to assist in the firefighting operation.
The incident occurred shortly after Deputy Comptroller of Customs Timothy Jonah assumed duty at the command. Jonah described the fire outbreak as unfortunate, saying he had barely resumed when the incident occurred.
He said the incident would provide an opportunity for the command to strengthen its operations and safety measures.
Jonah also announced that a committee would be constituted to investigate the cause and circumstances surrounding the fire.
He commended the Customs personnel who responded to the emergency and worked with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service to contain the situation.
The Deputy Comptroller further stated that the command would strengthen its safety protocols to prevent a recurrence.
The full extent of the damage and the exact value of property destroyed were not immediately disclosed as investigations into the incident are expected to continue.
