A fire outbreak has gutted a section of the Arena Market in the Oshodi area of Lagos State, destroying no fewer than 10 shops.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Tuesday. According to the statement signed by the Service’s Controller General, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, a distress call was received at about 5:50 p.m., prompting the immediate deployment of firefighting units to the scene.
“The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service received a distress call at approximately 17:50 hours today, reporting a fire outbreak at Arena Market, Bolade, Oshodi. Firefighting units were promptly mobilised and arrived at the scene within five minutes, at about 17:55 hours,” the statement read.
The fire affected a section of the market comprising five 40-foot container shops arranged in two rows, bringing the total number of affected shops to 10. The shops were mainly used for the storage and sale of clothing materials stocked in bales.
Adeseye explained that the fire was successfully confined to the affected area and brought under control, adding that there was no threat of the fire spreading to other parts of the market.
She further assured the public that all necessary measures were taken to protect lives and property. An investigation into the cause of the fire, she said, would be conducted, and updates would be provided as appropriate.
This incident marks the second major fire outbreak in Lagos within a week. Last week, a massive fire engulfed the 22-storey Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) House on Martins Street, Lagos Island.
The blaze reportedly originated from an apartment on the fourth floor and rapidly spread to other parts of the building, reaching as high as the sixth floor. Following an on-the-spot assessment, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced that the 25-storey building would be demolished.
According to the governor, a committee chaired by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Gbenga Oyerinde, has been set up to oversee the demolition exercise. He also confirmed that no casualties were recorded in the incident.
