Property worth billions of naira has been destroyed following separate fire outbreaks at Tejuosho Market and the Aluminum Village in Dopemu, Lagos.
The incidents, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday affected a three-storey commercial building in Yaba and several shops and offices within the Aluminum Village along the Abeokuta Expressway in Agege.
Eyewitnesses said the fires spread rapidly due to the presence of highly flammable materials and the close proximity of shops.
“I was fast asleep when I was woken by intense flames. I tried to get out to see if I could join others to put out the fire, but it was already too intense,” said Mrs. Abosede, a resident of the area.
The Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, confirmed both incidents, stating that emergency responders acted swiftly to contain the fires.
She explained that the first incident engulfed parts of the Aluminum Village in Dopemu, affecting multiple offices and shops within a large commercial complex.
According to her, fire crews from the Ikeja and Agege stations responded promptly and successfully brought the situation under control.
Adeseye further disclosed that the second fire occurred at about 3:15 a.m. at a three-storey building on Oyabiyi Street, opposite the Nigeria Labour Congress office in Tejuosho, Yaba.
“The building, which housed shops stocked with textile materials, was completely engulfed by fire,” she said.
She added that firefighters from the Somolu, Ilupeju, and Sari Iganmu stations were mobilised to the scene and were able to contain the blaze, preventing it from spreading to adjoining properties.
The fire service boss commended the response of emergency teams, noting that both incidents were brought under control without any reported casualties.
She, however, reiterated the need for strict adherence to fire safety measures, particularly in commercial areas where combustible materials are stored.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the causes of the incidents.