A fire outbreak on Thursday gutted a section of the popular Folashade Tinubu Ojo Ebute-Ero Market, Gorodom, Lagos Island, leaving one person injured and goods destroyed..
The incident occurred at about 1:12 PM at Block A of the market. The fire, which started on the ground floor of a storey building used as storage shops, quickly spread to the top floor of the building.
The cause of the fire is yet to be officially ascertained. A preliminary field report linked the outbreak to exposure involving a solar panel, a common alternative power source in the market due to irregular electricity supply. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said investigation into the exact cause was still ongoing.
Emergency responders including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Federal Fire Service, LASEMA, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, the Central Business District Crew and the Nigeria Police Force, Ebute-Ero Division, were mobilised to the scene.
According to LASEMA, the Sharks Team from Lekki Base was activated at about 1:38 PM following a distress call. The joint response team was able to put out the fire and prevent it from spreading to adjoining buildings and shops in the densely populated market, salvaging goods and properties worth millions of Naira.
On casualties, no death was recorded in the incident but an adult male who fell from building is receiving medical care at a nearby hospital.
Authorities have urged traders to prioritise fire safety by avoiding storage of combustible materials and ensuring proper electrical connections.
