Fire destroys textile stores in Lagos

A three-storey commercial building housing textile material shops was destroyed by fire in the early hours of Saturday in Yaba, Lagos, in one of two overnight fire incidents recorded across the state.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze broke out at approximately 3:15am at a building on Oyabiyi Street, opposite the Nigeria Labour Congress office in Tejuosho, Yaba. Shops and stores packed with stacked textile materials bore the brunt of the inferno.

Firefighters from three stations — Somolu, Ilupeju and Sari Iganmu — were rapidly deployed to the scene and succeeded in containing the flames before they could spread to neighbouring buildings. No casualties were reported.

The agency’s Controller General, Margaret Adeseye, confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that the prompt response of emergency responders was critical in preventing a wider disaster.

In a separate but related incident the same night, another fire broke out at Tower Aluminium Village in Dopemu, Agege, where offices and stores were affected. The agency said both fires were brought under control without escalation.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of both incidents.

Adeseye used the opportunity to call on residents and business operators — particularly those in commercial areas where flammable goods are stored — to take fire safety precautions seriously.

“We urge members of the public to remain vigilant and prioritise fire safety precautions at all times,” she said.