Traders Count Losses as Fire Guts Lagos Spare Parts Market, Millions Lost

A devastating fire swept through a spare parts market in the Idumota area of Lagos State on Friday night, destroying properties worth hundreds of millions of naira.
Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday.
He reported that multiple buildings housing car spare parts shops were engulfed by the blaze, which began around 10:20 p.m.
“Following distress calls via the 767/112 Toll-Free Emergency Lines, LASEMA activated its Emergency Response Teams from Lekki, Cappa, and Alausa,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

Emergency responders, including LASEMA’s Shark and Tiger Response Teams, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Federal Fire Service, worked together to contain the inferno. Their swift response prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings.

While the cause of the fire remains unknown, no casualties or injuries were reported. “Dampening down” operations have commenced to eliminate remaining hot spots, and salvage efforts to recover valuable goods are ongoing.

Law enforcement agencies were on-site to manage the crowd and ensure safety during the firefighting and recovery operations.

The incident is a significant blow to traders, many of whom lost their entire stock of goods. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but affected traders are now left counting their losses, with hopes pinned on further recovery efforts.