While food inflation in Nigeria rose to an all-time high of 40.1% according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, the cost of petrol which naturally hikes other consumer goods is not helping.
And amid this worrisome status quo, there seems to be another concerning trend in Lagos: market fires. In less than five months, the state has recorded at least four fire outbreaks with three of the disasters caused by the use of generator sets.
Below is a list of Lagos market disasters recorded so far:
1. Mandilas
A massive fire broke out in a warehouse in the 14-storey Mandilas Building, Broad Street on Lagos Island area of Lagos on Sunday, January 21, with goods worth multi-million burnt to ashes.
The fire broke out from the building in the afternoon, but operatives of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene around 1:15 pm.
Director, of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFR) Margaret Adeseye said on arriving at the scene, a warehouse in the 14-storey building was on fire.
She said the fire originated on the first floor and had now reached the fourth floor, saying that fire-fighting operation was still ongoing, adding that the inferno was caused by careless welding during the installation of a generator on the second floor.
2. Apongbon
Another fire incident occurred at 48 Breadfruit Street, Apongbon, Lagos Island on Monday, April 8, due to what was described as careless handling of a generator.
As reported by the LSFR in the state, the disaster started from the second floor of the three-storey building housing various hair wigs leading to no casualty, thankfully.
Adeseye, speaking on the development, disclosed: “The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has initiated a comprehensive operation to contain a fire outbreak at 48 Breadfruit Street, Apongbon, Lagos, which began at approximately 12:24hrs on Monday.
“The blaze, originating from the second floor of a three-storey building primarily housing various hair wigs, prompted a swift and coordinated response from multiple fire crews, including those stationed at Ebute Elefun, Sari Iganmu, Dolphin, and Alausa of the agency, as well as the Federal Fire Service.
“Despite challenges posed by the difficult terrain and heightened concerns among traders, the fire has been successfully extinguished, preventing its spread to adjacent property and salvaging what remains of the affected structure.
“There have been no reported casualties, and the cause of the fire is attributed to careless handling of a generator.”
3. Dosunmu
About a day later, a raging fire swept through 14 buildings in the Lagos Island market, around the Balogun and Dosunmu axis, on Tuesday, April 9, destroying goods and property worth millions of naira.
Reporting the disaster, the service said that two structures out of the 14 affected buildings collapsed before being contained by the firefighters.
Adeseye on X disclosed that the fire originated from the refuelling of a generator and was exacerbated by fuel storage in kegs at a penthouse housing a printing shop with chemical contents.
“Efforts to assess damage and implement preventive measures are ongoing. We appreciate the collaboration of all emergency responders at the scene.
“Caution is advised when handling combustible materials to prevent future incidents,” Adeseye stated.
4. Ilepo
Even more, a part of Ilepo Market at Oke Odo, Lagos State, was set on fire as hoodlums clashed with traders in the market over bet money on Thursday, May 3.
Reporters gathered that the crisis which started in the evening of Wednesday, May 1, escalated to Thursday, while the police are to restore order and calm in the area.
One of the traders, Aminu Muhammad Sa’id, who spoke with newsmen, claimed: “One of the traders in the market played lotto (bet Naija) and won N13,000 but was given N11,000 and because of the N2,000 balance which he was not given, the fight started.
“The hoodlums from the nearby market used the opportunity to start looting and burning property in the market. They looted a lot of shops, carted away food items and valuables…”
