There was pandemonium on Tuesday at the popular container complex around the PTML terminal located at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos as fire reportedly broke out in one of the container offices, spreading to 40 others.
Curiously, earlier in the day, there was another fire incident at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) building popularly known as ‘national’, also in Tin Can Island Port second gate. The fire affected several offices.
Both buildings belong to the Seaview Properties Limited, a subsidiary of the Nigerian Port Authority.
It was observed that fire fighters did not report arrive on time to the scenes of the fire.
As at 7pm, freight forwarder, Mr. Ojo Akintoye, said he was still at the scene of the fire at PTML container complex.
He said that operators with offices inside the complex are suspecting foul play, saying that the fire might have been caused deliberately.
He said that office of a BOT member of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agent (ANLCA), Aare Sanni Shittu as well as other top clearing agents occupying the left wing of the complex were completely razed.
The NPA had in 2016 served occupants of the PTML container complex an eviction notice.
But the chairman of the complex, Mr. Chukwuemeka Shedrack, had kicked against the order, saying that NPA was trying to render the operators homeless. The occupants alleged that there was an attempt by NPA to concession the complex to a popular port concessionaire.