The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has indicated that the Christ Embassy building on Billings Way, Oregun, in the Ikeja area of Lagos State, which caught fire early Sunday, might be demolished if it fails an integrity test.
The President and founder of LoveWorld Incorporated, also known as Christ Embassy, Rev. Chris Oyakhilome, has vowed to rebuild a better and bigger structure to replace the damaged building.
LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, discussed the potential demolition while speaking with journalists at the scene of the incident on Sunday.
The fire, which started around 7:30 a.m., was quickly contained by emergency responders, preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings. An excavator was used to pull down parts of the building to access the sections engulfed in flames.
Oke-Osanyintolu noted that the fire’s intensity caused cracks in the building’s walls, necessitating an integrity test.
“We have seen a lot of structural defects; there are cracks on the walls, and we are carrying out evacuation so that the place will be safe,” he said. “We will ensure to subject the building to an integrity test where we can determine the next line of action. We cannot demolish at this moment until an integrity test is carried out. If it is not safe, then we will take the next action.”
He added that the church had cooperated with emergency services, aiding in the swift containment of the fire. “We have the structural design of the building with us, and we will investigate thoroughly to ascertain the cause of the fire.”
The presence of highly flammable materials contributed to the fire’s intensity, despite the church having basic firefighting equipment. “As a professional, I realised that maybe there were lots of flammables in there in terms of the curtains and other materials. However, from what I have seen, they have basic firefighting equipment, trained men to curtail fire, and fire hydrants,” Oke-Osanyintolu explained.
Rev. Oyakhilome, during a live Sunday service at the church’s campground in Asese, Ogun State, viewed the incident as an opportunity to rebuild. “Nothing happens in the life of a child of God by accident,” he said. “Now that this has happened, we will build a bigger, better, and more glorious one, and the devil will lick his wounds.”
Ibitayo Adenike, Head of the Search and Rescue Unit of the Lagos Territorial Office of the National Emergency Management Agency, mentioned that the absence of worshippers at the time of the fire prevented casualties. “At the time of the fire, there were no worshippers in the building. There were only a few people who were having a meeting, which was what helped to prevent casualties that might have occurred with a crowd.”
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) has begun investigating the cause of the fire. “The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and investigations are underway to ascertain its origin,” said LSFRS Director, Margaret Adeseye, in a statement on Sunday. “No casualties have been reported at this time. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.”
