Panic broke out at Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital in Lagos on Thursday after fire erupted on the second floor of the three-storey medical facility. Patients, nursing mothers, and hospital staff were seen fleeing the building as thick smoke filled parts of the hospital housing critical units including maternity wards.
The fire prompted fears that some patients, including infants, might be trapped inside. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as emergency responders were called to the scene.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service quickly arrived and succeeded in containing the blaze, which officials later described as a “minor fire” limited to a nursing room on the second floor. No casualties were reported.
In an official statement, the fire service confirmed the incident was swiftly managed, preventing further damage and disruption. “Normal operations have resumed, and medical services to the public continue uninterrupted,” the agency noted, adding that an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
While the immediate danger was averted, the incident has raised concerns about emergency preparedness and safety infrastructure in public healthcare facilities across Lagos State.
