The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that the fire which gutted a section of the Alaba International Market on Tuesday evening resulted from a power surge.
The agency reported that no casualties or injuries occurred during the incident.
According to a statement signed by Maria Fadairo, Senior Public Affairs Officer of the service, a distress call was received at 7:18 p.m. concerning a blaze at 155 Olojo Drive, opposite Tantalizers, in the Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Upon receiving the alert, firefighters from the Ojo and Ijegun-Egba stations were immediately dispatched to the scene.
The affected structure comprised multiple lock-up shops on a two-storey building covering about 648 square metres, located within a five-hectare market complex.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire started on the top floor shortly after electricity was restored, due to negligence by some shop owners,” the statement read in part.
The agency explained that limited access to the premises—because most shops were already closed—delayed firefighting efforts, allowing the flames to spread before being contained to the upper floor.
Furniture and Power Equipment Shops Affected
The service said the affected shops mainly dealt in furniture and alternative power equipment, alongside a law office.
Firefighting operations concluded successfully at 10:10 p.m., thanks to the joint efforts of the Federal Fire Service, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and the Ojo Police Division.
The Controller General, Margaret Abimbola Adeseye, commended the swift inter-agency collaboration and urged the public to observe strict fire safety measures, especially in commercial hubs, to avert future tragedies.
Videos obtained by Channels Television showed several plazas near the Ojo Local Government Secretariat engulfed in flames, with fire service officials battling to extinguish the blaze.
The Alaba International Market, located along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway, is one of West Africa’s largest trade centres, known for household items, electronics, and building materials.
The incident occurred barely a month after a separate fire at Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos Island, claimed at least ten lives.