An early morning fire at the Elegushi Model Market complex in Lekki, Lagos State, has destroyed at least 48 shops, officials have confirmed.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) disclosed the incident on Sunday. Permanent Secretary Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu said the agency received an emergency alert around 2 a.m. and discovered the market engulfed in flames upon arrival.
He noted that the LASEMA response team acted swiftly to contain the fire, preventing further destruction.
“Preliminary investigations conducted by the Shark Response Team revealed that the fire started from one of the makeshift stalls within the compound of the market and quickly escalated to the main building. The cause of the fire was not known at the time of this report,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
He added that no lives were lost and no injuries were reported.
“No life was lost, and no injuries were sustained as a result of the incident. Collaborative efforts by all stakeholders ensured coordinated firefighting to completely extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading to adjoining buildings,” he explained.
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Following the blaze, a post-disaster assessment revealed that 48 shops were affected.
“Forty-eight shops were affected by the fire. The market union executives were advised to place fire extinguishers in strategic locations to enable them to arrest or control minor fires before they escalate and spread. Shop owners were also advised to be more conscious of fire outbreaks and fire prevention measures. Smoke detectors and fire alarms are to be installed within the premises,” Oke-Osanyintolu concluded.
The agency has urged traders to adopt fire safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.