MNET, Supersports lose multi-million naira equipment to fire

Property worth millions of naira were consumed by fire on Saturday after studios belonging to MNET and Supersports located on the premises on Phillips Electronics Company caught fire.

Although the cause of the fire could not be ascertained as at press time, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that the fire began around 3pm during productions at the Supersports.

The General Manager, Supersports, Mr. Felix Nwogu, said the channel was transmitting a live football match from Europe when the fire began, adding that four studios of the company’s studio were affected.

He said, “We were transmitting live matches from Europe when the fire broke out. The live studios cover the whole of Africa and of course subsequent productions will be affected.

“We called on the fire service and they responded on time but they were overwhelmed so they had to get more water. Thankfully no one was injured or killed but million-dollar equipment was completely burnt.”

The news of the fire quickly spread causing pandemonium in Ojota Bus Stop where the studios are located.  Policemen and other emergency officials cordoned off the area to prevent looting.

A man who watched from a distance cried profusely and refused to be consoled by co-workers as he repeatedly said, “My life is finished. Where I will I start from?”

A Director at Phillips Electronic Company, Abiodun Dickson, said his company was not seriously affected as the fire only burnt the studios.

Our correspondent learnt that MNET shows such as Tinsel, Glo Naija Sings, Studio 53 and Jara would all be affected by the fire as well.

A  cameraman, who did not identify himself, lamented that all pre-recorded video footage had been lost in the fire and lamented that hours of labour had been wasted.

The Head of Operations, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Olusegun Magnus-Davis, said the building would be sealed off till further notice.

He said this was necessary in order to prevent people from going into the building.

The Director of the state fire service, Mr. Razaq Fadipe, said the fire was difficult to put out because of the nature of the materials used in constructing the studio.

Fadipe blamed the studio operators for not calling the fire service on time, adding that his men arrived the scene on time.

He said, “We received the emergency call around 3pm and I dispatched two 10,000 litre-tankers from Alausa and Ikeja. We discovered that the fire was still raging and the thick smoke had engulfed Ojota so we dispatched two more vehicles from Ilupeju and Isolo to complement the ones sent earlier. We later sent another vehicle with chemicals from Alausa.

“Even before we arrived, the roof had caved in which implies that the fire could have been raging for at least 30 minutes before we were called. The studio walls are built with saw dust and foam for sound-proof and these objects are called free-burning materials which allow fire to spread quickly.

“We fault the studio owners because they didn’t have water and fire-fighting equipment and a big organisation should have these things.

PUNCH