A devastating early morning fire outbreak has destroyed no fewer than 48 shops at the Elegushi Model Market complex in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, with emergency responders receiving a distress call at about 2:00 am, according to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
Confirming the incident, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said emergency teams arrived at the scene to find parts of the market engulfed in flames.
“Upon arrival, it was observed that the market complex was already on fire. The response team immediately worked to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further,” he said.
Preliminary findings by LASEMA’s Shark Response Team revealed that the fire originated from a makeshift stall within the market compound before spreading rapidly to the main building. However, the exact cause of the fire had not been determined as of the time of filing this report.
Oke-Osanyintolu confirmed that no lives were lost, and no injuries were recorded during the incident, attributing this to the early hour and swift response by emergency agencies.
“No life was lost, and no injuries were sustained. Collaborative efforts by all stakeholders ensured coordinated firefighting to completely extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading to adjoining buildings,” he stated.
A post-disaster assessment later confirmed that 48 shops were affected, resulting in significant losses for traders operating within the market.
In response to the incident, LASEMA officials sensitised traders and market leaders on fire safety and prevention strategies. The agency advised the installation of fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and fire alarms at strategic locations within the market.
“Market union executives were advised to place fire extinguishers in strategic locations to enable them to arrest minor fires before escalation,” the agency said.
Lagos markets have witnessed recurring fire outbreaks in recent years, often attributed to overcrowding, unsafe electrical connections, and inadequate fire safety infrastructure.
Authorities have continued to urge traders and market associations to adopt proactive safety measures to prevent future disasters.
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