A devastating fire broke out on Thursday at a furniture market in Ojota, Lagos State, causing significant losses as goods worth millions of naira were destroyed.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the incident in a statement.
According to Oke-Osanyintolu, the blaze started around 1 p.m. due to an electrical surge from a transformer located near the market.
“Upon arrival at the scene by 2:04 p.m., our Tiger Response Team discovered that multiple shops used for furniture production and sales were already engulfed in flames,” he stated.
He noted that the fire was traced back to an electrical power surge from the transformer positioned next to the affected shops.
Fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries reported.
However, the fire destroyed properties and furniture items valued at millions of naira.
Emergency response teams, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Lagos State Ambulance Service, quickly intervened to contain the blaze. “Through coordinated efforts, we successfully prevented the fire from spreading to nearby areas, limiting further damage,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.
This incident follows another market fire reported on Monday in the Ajah area of Lagos.
The fire, which occurred late Sunday night at Ajah Market near Alesh bus stop, also caused extensive damage, with several shops and goods destroyed.
Emergency responders were able to control the spread of the fire and prevent it from reaching surrounding buildings.
The government is urging residents and market operators to exercise caution and ensure proper electrical safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.