Fire destroys 48 shops at Elegushi Market in Lagos

At least 48 shops were destroyed in an early morning fire that gutted the Elegushi Model Market complex in the Lekki area of Lagos State on Sunday.

The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the agency received a distress call about the incident at around 2 a.m.

He explained that emergency responders arrived to find the market already engulfed in flames, but prompt intervention helped to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings.

According to Oke-Osanyintolu, preliminary investigations showed that the fire originated from a makeshift stall within the market complex before spreading to the main structure.

The exact cause of the fire had yet to be determined at the time of reporting.

“No life was lost and no injuries were recorded during the incident,” he said, adding that the coordinated efforts of all responding agencies ensured the fire was completely extinguished.

A post-incident assessment later confirmed that 48 shops were affected by the blaze.

The LASEMA boss noted that traders were sensitised on fire safety and prevention measures to avert future incidents.

He advised market leaders to install fire extinguishers at strategic locations and encouraged shop owners to adopt basic fire prevention practices, including the installation of smoke detectors and fire alarms within the market premises.