“Fire, fire, fire,” echoed the chant heard by Mr. John Okoro*, a fabric merchant, as he manned his shop in the Dosunmu area of Lagos Island market on April 9th.
Rushing to find the cause of the commotion, Mr. Okoro and fellow his traders on the second floor of a four-storey building, were greeted to the raging heat of blazing flames. The fire had engulfed the fourth floor, the building’s topmost level, with thick smoke billowing skyward.
“We secured our shops to prevent looting during the chaos and then ascended to tackle the fire,” Okoro recounted to The Record.
As the fire grew out of control, it quickly spread to other floors of the building. Mr. Okoro and the other traders fled to save their lives, unable to retrieve their goods which were securely locked away. Within two hours, the inferno ravaged their merchandise, along with not only their shopping complex but also 13 neighbouring buildings.
In an official statement issued on April 10, Margaret Adeseye, the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, revealed that the fire originated from a generator refuelling incident and was worsened by fuel stored in kegs at a penthouse housing a printing shop with chemical contents.
Firefighters managed to contain the inferno, but not before two structures among the 14 affected buildings collapsed.
Mrs Aina Dauda*, another affected shop owner, recounted to The Record that she had never witnessed such a fierce blaze in all her years in Lagos. She estimated that over 200 shop owners and traders had been affected by the fire, resulting in the loss of millions of naira and, for some, their sole means of livelihood.
She highlighted the lack of electricity in the market as a major contributing factor to the tragic incident.
“If Lagos State or the respective authorities always gave us light, definitely nobody would be using generators. What do you need a generator for if there is always light?” Dauda remarked.
Rampant cases of fire incidents in Lagos Island market
In January 2024, the Lagos State Fire Service received 251 emergency calls, indicating a persistent trend of fire incidents that have continued unabated through April 2024.
Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, attributed the increasing frequency of these fire incidents primarily to negligence and delayed reporting in a press release issued in February 2024.
The Lagos Island market areas have become hotspots for devastating fire outbreaks, with several markets being ravaged within a span of four months.
In January 2024, a fire outbreak devastated the popular Mandilas storey building on Broad Street in Lagos Island, destroying the 10-storey structure used as a warehouse for goods.
In March 2024, another fire incident destroyed three buildings at the intersection of Nnamdi Azikiwe and Docemo in the Idumota market area. On April 8, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service swiftly averted a fire outbreak at 48 Breadfruit Street, Apongbon, a district in Lagos renowned for hair and cosmetics.
Barely 24 hours after this incident, the most recent fire outbreak occurred, resulting in the destruction of 14 buildings.
Lagos Govt’s moves to avert fire incidents
On April 9th, Mrs. Bola Olumegbon Lawal, the Special Adviser to the state Governor on Central Business Distress (CBD), announced the immediate closure and suspension of business activities in the market and its surrounding buildings following an assessment of the damaged properties.
The markets affected by the closure include Dosumu, Nnamdi Azikwe, Moshalashi, Woro Pedro, Obanikoro Streets, Ago Tawa, Idumagbo Avenue, Idumagbo, Ido – Oluwo, and Oju Olobun Streets.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, expressed disappointment with the conversion of residential buildings into storage for hazardous materials, noting that this practice contributed to the rapid spread of fires in Lagos.
“In our meeting with victims and stakeholders, we discussed both immediate and long-term support measures. An integrity test on standing structures is now mandatory, and Dosunmu Market will remain closed until we can ensure the safety of all structures and compliance with regulations. Unapproved buildings will be demolished. Our commitment to safety and order in our markets is unwavering,” Sanwo-Olu shared in a statement issued via his official X account on April 11..
“The Ministry of Physical Planning will intensify its efforts to enforce building codes and prevent the misuse of residential properties. We cannot overlook the safety of our citizens,” he added.
During an inspection by our reporter on Wednesday, The Record noticed that some buildings had already been marked as distressed and were awaiting demolition.
Contrary to claims on social media, there were reports of shops being demolished at Lagos Island without the knowledge of shop owners.
However, Mr. Ikechukwu Anthony, one of the shop owners whose shop was marked as distressed, revealed that they were all given an evacuation notice.
“Everyone was able to pack their goods before the demolition. The story on the internet is not true,” Anthony clarified to The Record.
A cry for help
Mrs. Dauda and other victims whose businesses were impacted by the fire are urging the Lagos State Government to fulfil its promises.
According to Mr. Festus Adewale*, the names of the victims have been submitted to the authorities for verification for compensation and support.
“They instructed us to provide our names. I’m not sure if it’s for compensation or support, but I pray they address it promptly,” Adewale said to The Record.
The Chairman of the Isale Eko Descendants Union (IDU), Mr. Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), emphasised the urgent need for a comprehensive reset of the Lagos Island Central Business District.
He also expressed readiness to collaborate with the government and other stakeholders in restoring and revitalising the Lagos Island market community.
“In the face of adversity, let us stand united, determined to turn challenges into opportunities and pave the way for a brighter tomorrow for Dosunmu Market and all its residents,” Kazeem shared in a statement.
*Name changed to protect source’s identity
Let the Nigerian government help its people in these troubled times! We must stand strong and stand together to successfully overcome adversities!
This is an utter calamity, we need to stand united against natural disasters to ensure we turn a possible defeat into a sure victory..somehow! My heart goes out to all the involved parties I hope everyone can stay strong during this woeful times.