A ferry carrying 19 people was destroyed by fire at the Ipakodo ferry Terminal in the Ikorodu neighbourhood of Lagos State on Thursday, leaving four passengers with various degrees of injuries.
It was gathered from a statement by the Lagos State Waterways Authority Public Affairs Unit on Thursday that the fire occurred at about 6:45 am.
The statement said that as of the time of publication, the cause of the fire was unknown.
It read, “The Lagos State Waterways Authority confirmed a fire incident occurred at around 6:45 am today at the Ipakodo Ferry Terminal in Ikorodu, involving the LAGFERRY vessel, “Igbega Eko,” with 19 passengers onboard which was en route to Victoria Island.
“Upon receiving the distress call, LASWA’s emergency response team swiftly mobilized to the scene, working in close coordination with LAGFERRY, other boat operators and first responders to manage the situation effectively. We are pleased to report that all passengers and crew on board were evacuated safely, though four passengers suffered minor injuries and are currently receiving medical attention.
“We are currently conducting thorough preliminary investigations into the cause of the incident, collaborating with LAGFERRY and other stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive assessment.”
According to the LASWA authority, an investigation into the occurrence has begun.
The statement came to the conclusion that LASWA will keep safety as its top priority and put policies in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“Safety is our utmost priority, and we are committed to implementing any necessary recommendations to enhance fire prevention measures throughout the Lagos waterways.
“LASWA assures the public that all safety protocols remain intact, and ferry operations are proceeding as scheduled.
We encourage all passengers to stay calm and adhere to safety guidelines while enjoying our waterways. We will provide further updates as investigations progress,” the statement concluded.
