A late-night fire outbreak has destroyed a one-storey shopping complex and nearby shops along Amore Street in the Ajegunle Boundary area of Lagos, leaving traders counting heavy losses but with no casualties recorded.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency said the incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday and was reported at about 2:40 a.m. through its emergency toll-free lines, 767/112.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency said its response team was immediately deployed from the Cappa Base in Oshodi.
“Upon arrival at the scene at about 3:22 a.m., our responders observed active flames engulfing a one-storey shopping complex housing several clothing dealers,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
“The presence of highly combustible materials contributed to the rapid spread and intensity of the fire.”
Preliminary findings by the agency indicate that the fire was triggered by a power surge following the restoration of public electricity supply.
“Initial investigations revealed that the fire was ignited by a power surge when electricity was restored. Fortunately, no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded,” the statement noted.
LASEMA said its team conducted an immediate risk assessment, cordoned off the affected area, and implemented safety measures to prevent the blaze from spreading to adjoining buildings.
“Prompt intervention by our team, in collaboration with other emergency responders, ensured that the fire was contained within the affected area and eventually extinguished,” the agency said. “This coordinated effort prevented further damage to neighbouring structures.”
The agency confirmed that the shopping complex and adjoining shops were completely razed, with all goods inside destroyed.
“All properties and goods stored in the complex, estimated to be worth millions of naira, were totally lost to the fire,” Oke-Osanyintolu stated, adding that “a preliminary physical examination shows partial structural compromise, which necessitates an urgent structural integrity assessment.”
LASEMA urged business owners and property managers in the area to strengthen fire safety measures and review storage practices to prevent similar incidents.
“While firefighting operations have been concluded and damping-down continues to prevent re-ignition, we advise commercial property owners to improve fire safety protocols and ensure proper electrical installations,” the agency said.
Emergency responders at the scene included officials from LASEMA’s Response Team and Fire Unit, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and officers of the Nigeria Police Force. Monitoring of the site, LASEMA added, will continue to prevent any reoccurrence.
