No fewer than 48 shops were destroyed by an early morning fire at the Elegushi Model Market in the Lekki area of Lagos State on Sunday.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said it received a distress call at about 2 a.m. According to the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, emergency workers arrived to find the market already on fire.
They acted quickly and stopped the fire from spreading further.
Preliminary findings showed that the fire started from a makeshift stall inside the market and later spread to the main building.
The exact cause of the fire was not known at the time of the report.
No one was injured and no life was lost during the incident.
Firefighters and other emergency responders worked together to put out the fire completely and protect nearby buildings.
After the incident, LASEMA confirmed that 48 shops were affected. Traders were advised on fire safety measures to prevent future fires.
Market leaders were told to install fire extinguishers in key areas, while shop owners were urged to be more careful.
The agency also recommended the installation of smoke detectors and fire alarms in the market.
