A foam manufacturing company on Oyedele Street, off Liasu Road in the Ikotun area of Lagos, was destroyed by fire in the early hours of Tuesday, May 12, 2026, sparking panic among residents of the densely populated neighbourhood.
The fire, which reportedly started between 4:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., razed the factory and damaged part of the roof of a nearby storey building before emergency responders succeeded in containing the blaze.
No casualty was recorded.
Residents said several explosions were heard from within the premises as thick smoke spread across the area, forcing many occupants to flee their homes for safety.
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Firefighters from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, alongside officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps and operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, responded to the incident and prevented the fire from spreading to adjoining buildings.
A resident, Victoria Oto, said the fire was first noticed by a woman bathing her children in a nearby compound, who immediately raised the alarm.
According to her, residents rushed out in fear as the explosions intensified inside the factory.
Another resident, Agnes Oyeleke, urged the Lagos State Government to tighten regulations on industrial facilities operating within residential communities, especially factories involved in chemical-related production.
She warned that the presence of such facilities in crowded neighborhoods continued to expose residents to avoidable danger.