Lagos State – In the early hours of Tuesday, a fire broke out at the popular Alaba Market in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, resulting in the destruction of several shops and goods worth millions of naira.
According to initial reports, the blaze started around dawn in one section of the market and quickly spread to adjacent shops due to the dense arrangement of stalls and use of flammable materials in the partitions. Eyewitnesses said traders rushed to salvage their goods, while emergency responders — including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) — were mobilised to the scene.
Officials confirmed that while the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, preliminary assessments pointed to electrical wiring faults and the high-density layout of the stalls as contributing factors. No casualties have yet been officially reported.
Traders at the market expressed deep worry over the losses, noting that many livelihoods depend on their stock and that such an incident could set them back significantly. Some estimated that the value of lost goods runs into the tens of millions of naira.
In response, LASEMA activated emergency response plans and coordinated with fire-service crews to contain the blaze and prevent further spread, while the fire service worked to extinguish the inferno. Market leaders have been called upon to assist in the assessment of damages and aid efforts to rebuild and clear the area.
This incident adds to a growing list of fire outbreaks in major markets across Lagos, where close stall spacing, informal wiring, and storage of flammable goods continue to pose major fire-safety challenges.