Traders at the popular Arena Military Market in Bolade, Oshodi axis of Lagos, are counting their losses after a fire destroyed at least 10 shops, along with goods worth millions of naira.
As gathered, the containers were fully stocked with first-grade merchandise, which was completely destroyed as the massive inferno raged on, leaving shop owners helplessly watching their investments go up in flames.
Video obtained by the Guild on Tuesday shows people, including buyers and sellers, throwing water and bottled water from a distance in a desperate effort to extinguish the blazing fire.
According to sources, emergency responders are already at the scene, battling the massive blaze to prevent it from spreading to other shops.
Confirming the incident, the Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, stated that fire crews from Bolade, Ilupeju, Ikeja, and Alausa Fire Stations responded swiftly and collaboratively to contain the inferno.
According to Adeseye, the fire affected a section of the market consisting of five (5) 40-foot container shops arranged in two rows, making a total of 10 shops.
She added that the affected area is primarily used for the storage and sale of clothing materials, which were stocked in bale, the fire has been confined to the affected section and curtailed.
Adeseye further assured that the situation is firmly under control, and there is no risk of the fire spreading to other parts of the market.
“We received a distress call at approximately 17:50 hours today reporting a fire outbreak at Arena Market, Bolade, Oshodi. Firefighting units were promptly dispatched and arrived at the scene within five minutes, at about 17:55 hours,” the controller said.
“The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service assures members of the public that all necessary measures have been taken to safeguard lives and property. An investigation into the cause of the fire will be conducted in due course, and further updates will be provided as necessary,” she added.
While all necessary efforts are being made by merchants and emergency responders to extinguish the fire, it is unclear whether the shop owners are present, as some merchants had traveled for the Christmas holiday.
The unfortunate incident occurred barely a week after a 25-storey building housing warehouse shops and corporate offices on Martins Street, Lagos Island, went up in flames just hours before Christmas.
Most of the warehouses, stocked with imported goods, were reported to have been completely destroyed, while at least three people lost their lives trying to save their belongings.
The inferno, which sent merchants back to square one, as learnt, lasted for over 24 hours, destroying every single item stored in the shops and leaving shop owners with nothing.
The inferno, which sent merchants back to square one, as learnt, lasted for over 24 hours, destroying every single item stored in the shops and leaving shop owners with nothing.
Following the incident which has raised serious concerns about the building’s structural integrity and the safety of lives and property in the surrounding area, the state’s Building Control Agency (LASBCA), has warned residents, traders, and passers-by to stay away from the building, as plans for the distressed building demolition intensified.
It added that they should stay at least 50 metres away from the building following a recent fire outbreak that razed the structure on Lagos-Island axis of the state.
