A fire broke out Tuesday evening at the popular Alaba International Market in Lagos, destroying several shops and properties worth millions of naira. Despite the damage, no casualties were reported, according to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.
Located along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Alaba Market is one of West Africa’s largest commercial centers, known for its trade in electronics, furniture, and building materials.
The fire reportedly started around 7:18 p.m. at 155 Olojo Drive, opposite a Tantalizers outlet, in the Ojo Local Government Area. In response, the Ojo and Ijegun-Egba Fire Stations were promptly deployed.
Maria Fadairo, the Fire Service’s Senior Public Affairs Officer, stated that the blaze affected multiple shops within a two-storey building covering 648 square meters, part of a larger five-hectare market complex.
Preliminary findings indicated the fire began shortly after power was restored and was attributed to negligence by some shop owners.
“Access was difficult as most shops were closed, which delayed firefighting efforts and contributed to the spread of the fire. However, it was contained to the top floor,” Fadairo said.
Affected businesses included furniture and alternative power equipment shops, as well as a law office. Thankfully, no injuries or deaths were recorded.
The Controller General of the Fire Service, Margaret Adeseye, praised the swift response of emergency teams and urged traders to observe strict fire safety practices, especially in densely packed markets.
This incident adds to a troubling series of market fires in Lagos this year. Similar outbreaks have occurred at Ladipo, Dosunmu, Balogun, and Mandilas markets mostly linked to electrical faults and poor safety practices.
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