The Lagos State Government has commenced an investigation into the cause of Friday's fire outbreak at the Bono Energy Terminal in Apapa after emergency responders successfully contained the blaze before it could spread to adjoining petroleum storage facilities.
The fire broke out at the Bono Energy Terminal, located within the Ibru Jetty Complex along the Apapa-Oworonshoki Expressway near Coconut Bus Stop, Olodi Apapa, involving a 5-million-litre Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) storage tank. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said the emergency was reported at 12:04 p.m. on Friday, July 3, with firefighters from the Ajegunle, Sari Iganmu and Isolo Fire Stations arriving at the scene by 12:16 p.m.
Providing an update after the operation, the Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, confirmed that the cause of the incident has not yet been established.
"The cause of the fire is yet to be determined and is currently under investigation," Adeseye said.
She disclosed that through the swift and coordinated efforts of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, working alongside emergency response teams from neighbouring oil and gas facilities, the fire was brought under control and completely extinguished by 1:54 p.m.
According to her, the rapid intervention prevented the flames from spreading to adjoining tanks and other critical infrastructure within the terminal, while no casualty was recorded.
The incident confirms an earlier report by Petroleumprice.ng, which first reported the fire at Bono Depot shortly after it broke out and disclosed that emergency response teams had been mobilised to the scene. While the cause and extent of the incident were still being assessed at the time, Petroleumprice.ng gathered that no life was lost in the fire. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service later confirmed the successful containment of the blaze and that no casualty was recorded, while efforts to reach the depot's management immediately after the incident were unsuccessful.
Adeseye commended the professionalism displayed by firefighters and emergency teams from neighbouring oil and gas facilities, noting that the joint operation played a critical role in preventing what could have escalated into a major industrial disaster within Apapa's densely populated petroleum storage corridor.
The incident has again drawn attention to the importance of emergency preparedness and safety compliance across Nigeria's downstream petroleum sector, particularly in Apapa, where numerous tank farms, depots and petroleum handling facilities operate within the same industrial corridor. Authorities are expected to release the outcome of their investigation after determining the cause of the fire.