Mandilas fire affects 6,700 traders, 450 shops, 30 offices —Iyaloja

CITIZENS COMPASS —The Iyaloja of the Atunwase International Market Mandilas General, Alhaja Adeniji Rashidat on Monday, said that about 6,700 traders, 450 shops, 30 offices, two hotels, and five restaurants were affected during the inferno which affected the market on Sunday.

This is just as the State government has shut down the affected building.

The Iyaloja briefed a team of safety officials who visited the Market on Monday.

Recall that some warehouses of a ten-story Mandilas building at Broad Street in Lagos Island were razed on Sunday.

This was disclosed by the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA), whose officials assessed the impact of the fire outbreak.

The Agency warned residents to be safety conscious while handling some equipment.

The Coordinator, Lagos State Territorial District of NEMA. Ibrahim Farinloye disclosed this in his post-disaster assessment.

He said, “NEMA has enjoined Nigerians to be safety conscious in their activities to protect their lives and property.
The Agency appealed while assessing the impacts of the last Sunday fire disaster that occurred at the 16th-floor old Mandalas building.

“The impacted traders are estimated to accommodate about 6,700 traders, 450 shops, 30 offices, 2 hotels, and 5 restaurants according to the Iya Oja of the Atunwase International Market Mandilas General, Alhaja Adeniji Rashidat who briefed the assessors.

“The fire which started at about 0011 hours began at the first floor where an alleged electric-wielding activity was going on.

“It was alleged that the people around did not notice the fire until it was too late before the fire service was contacted.

“The fire, also, spread to surrounding market stalls at Atunwase International Market with equal extensive damages as the main main complex.

“However, officials of Lagos State Safety Commission and Building Control Agency were on the ground assessing the integrity of all buildings at the scene.”

Farinloye said all affected structures have been cordoned off.

All structures have been locked down to prevent access to the shop for the safety of traders and the public.

“Other Agencies on the ground today are Lagos State Building Control Agency, Lagos Fire Services, Red Cross, Nigeria Police, Neighbourhood Watch, Lagos Island Local Government Sanitation, and Lagos State Business District are currently making efforts at making the scene safer for people.”