Lagos Fire Service Blames Shop Owners’ Negligence for Alaba Market Inferno
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has attributed the cause of the recent fire outbreak at the Alaba International Market to the negligence of some shop owners. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening, razed several shops within a section of the bustling market, destroying goods worth millions of naira.

In a statement released on Wednesday and obtained by Akahi News, the service’s Senior Public Affairs Officer, Maria Fadairo, said the fire started shortly after power supply was restored to the area.

Fire Ignited After Electricity Restoration

According to the statement, the service received a distress call at 7:18 pm about a fire outbreak at 155 Olojo Drive, opposite Tantalizers, Alaba International Market, Ojo.

“Upon receiving the alert, the Ojo and Ijegun-Egba Fire Stations were immediately deployed to the scene,” Fadairo stated.

Akahi News gathered that the inferno involved multiple lock-up shops of varying sizes situated within a two-storey building occupying about 648 square metres, within the expansive five-hectare market premises.

Preliminary investigations, according to the service, revealed that the fire originated from the topmost floor of the building shortly after electricity was restored — a situation linked to careless handling of electrical appliances by some traders.

Difficult Access Hampered Response

The fire service also noted that the closed nature of most shops at the time of the incident posed a serious challenge to emergency response teams.

“Access to the affected areas proved difficult as most shops were closed for the day, necessitating forced entry to gain access and suppress the fire,” the statement read.

Akahi News learnt that this delay contributed to the rapid spread of the flames. However, firefighters were able to confine the fire to the top floor, preventing it from engulfing the entire building.

The affected shops, according to officials, were mainly involved in the sale of furniture items, alternative power equipment, and included a law office.

Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were recorded during the incident, a fact that was confirmed by the Lagos Fire Service spokesperson.

Joint Effort Contained the Fire

Akahi News reports that firefighting operations were successfully completed at around 10:10 pm. The coordinated response involved personnel from the Federal Fire Service, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and the Ojo Police Division.

The Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, commended the joint effort of all responding agencies for their swift intervention. She emphasised that timely cooperation among emergency teams prevented what could have been a far greater disaster.

Adeseye Warns Against Electrical Negligence

In her remarks, Adeseye reiterated the importance of fire safety awareness, especially in commercial areas like Alaba Market where traders often rely on multiple sources of power.

She urged business owners to observe strict safety measures, including proper wiring, responsible use of electrical appliances, and the installation of fire extinguishers in shops.

“Most of these avoidable incidents are triggered by negligence, especially after power restoration. We must all take responsibility for safety to prevent future occurrences,” she said.

Akahi News recalls that Alaba International Market has recorded multiple fire incidents in recent years, raising concerns about poor compliance with safety regulations in high-density trading areas across Lagos.

Rebuilding After the Blaze

As of Wednesday morning, traders were seen assessing the extent of damage and salvaging what remained of their goods. Some lamented that they had lost entire consignments of imported materials, with no insurance cover.

Akahi News notes that while emergency agencies have called for stricter safety enforcement, many market operators continue to disregard electrical maintenance rules, heightening the risk of recurring disasters.

Authorities say investigations are still ongoing to determine the specific source of ignition, while the Lagos State Government has promised to support affected traders and reinforce fire safety sensitisation campaigns across major markets.

With the latest incident, the Lagos Fire Service is once again reminding residents and traders that fire prevention is everyone’s responsibility, not just that of emergency responders.

Akahi News — http://www.akahinews.org