The multi-million naira state-of-the-art MNet Africa studio in Ojota Lagos, Nigeria Saturday night was gutted by a strange fire.
Witnesses say the fire began at the MNET studio, used for entertainment programmes like Naija Sings, Studio 57, Jara, as well as popular soap Tinsel.
Thankfully, no life was lost during the incident
The cause of the fire, which witnesses say began at about 3.30 p.m., could not be ascertained as at press time.
The General Manager of Supersports, Felix Awogu, said that they were about to start the weekend’s live transmission when the fire began.
Upcoming football matches would continue to be aired, but the live studio, which covers the rest of Africa, will be off, according to Mr. Awogu.
A source who pleaded anonymity said that the fire would not have caused so much damage if the fire-fighters had arrived on time.
Another source said that the fire fighters arrived 30 minutes after they were informed.
“We were calling them (fire fighters), nobody came. The only one that came had no water in it.
“I was surprised. I was in Yaba when I called the first one, and we were getting to this place at the same time,” the source said.
According to Abiodun Dickson, a director in one of the companies affected, “a few thousand jobs” would be lost.
However, Rasaq Fadipe, Director of Lagos Fire Services, refuted claims that his men arrived late.
“The emergency call came in 15.00 hrs from the Lagos State Fire Service. Fortunately I was in the office; I quickly dispatched the fire vehicles in Alausa and Ikeja.”
Mr. Fadipe however blamed the organization for the inferno.
“Sincerely I will fault the organization. How can you have a big premises like this, a whole multinational company, and there’s no water hydrant. It’s given us bad image,” he added.
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