Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola makes a Plea for Safety after Tragic Fire Crackers Explosion

It was a tragic Boxing day for some residents of Lagos state yesterday when an explosion at a warehouse  which stored fire crackers triggered a massive fire which set ablaze 15 other adjoining buildings. An 11 year old boy was confirmed dead at the site of fire cracker explosion which occurred at 9AM at Oroyiyin\Jankara axis on Lagos Island with several others injured.

The sad incident has triggered reactions from several people including the governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Fashola who has vowed to punish the owner of the store where fire crackers were stored. He has also called on residents and business owners to carry out “soul searching and reflections” on the sort of businesses they do.

The explosion gutted buildings, cars and property at the Oroyiyin – Jankara axis on Lagos Island worth millions of naira.

According to Channels TV, the Governor who visited the explosion site described the incident as “unfortunate” while he heaped blames on owners of the store for being reckless business owners.

“In order to make quick business, we have lost a life, we lost property and all of us are in danger” the governor said.

He also complained that the items were imported in large quantities despite the fact that they had been banned.

“All of these items are under one form of prohibition or the other and we have men and women at our various entry and exit points. How did they get in? How did they enter? Who shipped them? Who imported them and who cleared them? Who approved them to come in. Those are very serious issues. We must also ask ourselves, must we do every business?”, he asked rhetorically.

Lagos state is one of the states that has banned the use of fire crackers , popularly called bangers during festivities and the governor lamented that “we make rules, we break them.”

May the soul of the young boy who died Rest In Peace.

Watch the touching call for safety made by the Governor.