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Fire outbreaks were recorded across six states in Nigeria on New Year’s Day, prompting swift emergency responses by firefighters nationwide.
The affected states include the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos, Imo, Gombe, Kwara, and Bayelsa, according to the Federal Fire Service (FFS).
In a statement released on Thursday, the FFS spokesperson, Paul Abraham, disclosed that a major fire broke out shortly after midnight at Cake Hot Restaurant located within River Plate Park, Wuse, Abuja.
He said firefighters, working in collaboration with the FCT Fire Service, were promptly mobilised and successfully contained the blaze, averting what could have become a major disaster in the busy recreational area.
“At about 00:23hrs on January 1, firefighters were mobilised to a fire outbreak at Cake Hot Restaurant, within River Plate Park, Wuse, Abuja. Crews arrived promptly and, in joint efforts with the FCT Fire Service, successfully contained the blaze,” the statement read.
Although a section of the restaurant’s garden was affected, no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded. Abraham noted that property valued at approximately ₦1.5 billion was saved, while losses were estimated at ₦500 million.
Preliminary investigations linked the incident to objects thrown during New Year celebrations, reinforcing long-standing warnings against the use of fireworks.
In Lagos, Imo, Gombe, and Kwara states, firefighters also responded to multiple fire incidents, successfully preventing further escalation and minimising property damage.
However, a tragic incident was recorded in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where a residential fire claimed the life of an 11-year-old child.
According to Abraham, the fire involved a wooden structure. While property worth about ₦10 million was salvaged, losses were estimated at ₦20 million.
“Preliminary findings indicate that the fire was caused by a candle left unattended,” he said.
The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Adeyemi Olumode, expressed sympathy to victims of the fires and reiterated the importance of strict adherence to fire safety precautions, especially during the harmattan season.
He urged Nigerians to:
- Switch off and unplug electrical appliances when not in use
- Avoid fireworks and open flames indoors
- Report fire incidents immediately to emergency services
“From Abuja to Yenagoa, fire can break out in seconds. But with vigilance and adherence to basic safety measures, many of these incidents are preventable. Lives and livelihoods must always come before celebrations,” Adeyemi said.
The FFS noted that its rapid nationwide response was made possible by a directive from the Controller General, which barred firefighters from proceeding on holiday or leave throughout the festive period.
This ensured that emergency crews were readily available to respond to multiple incidents, as the new year began with a stark reminder of the dangers posed by fire.
