The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service attributed the inferno that destroyed a section of the Alaba International Market to a power surge.
The agency confirmed that “no casualties or injuries were recorded” in the incident.
The agency stated that it received a distress call at 7:18 p.m., reporting a fire outbreak at 155 Olojo Drive, within the Ojo Local Government Area of the state. The Ojo and Ijegun-Egba fire stations were immediately dispatched to the scene.
The fire involved “multiple lock-up shops” inside a two-storey building of about 648 square meters within the larger market premises.
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A statement dated October 22, 2025, and signed by the Senior Public Affairs Officer, Maria Fadairo, indicated that “Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire originated from the topmost floor of the building shortly after electricity was restored, due to negligence on the part of some shop owners.”
The firefighting operation faced difficulties because “Access to the affected areas proved challenging as most shops were closed for the day, necessitating forced entry to gain access and suppress the fire, a delay that contributed to the spread of the flames, which was, however, confined to the floor,” the statement added.
The shops affected were primarily involved in the sale of furniture items and alternative power equipment, along with a law office.
Firefighting efforts were successfully concluded at 10:10 p.m. with the combined response of personnel from the Federal Fire Service, LASEMA, the Ojo Police Division, and the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps.
The Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Abimbola Adeseye, commended the “collaborative response of all agencies involved” and stressed the need for the public to strictly adhere to fire safety precautions, particularly in commercial areas.
Videos obtained by Channels Television showed several plazas near the Ojo Local Government Secretariat “engulfed in flames” on Tuesday evening, along with footage of officials working to contain the blaze.
The Alaba market, known for the sale of electronics, furniture, and building materials, is located along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway and is known as one of West Africa’s largest commercial trade centers.
The incident occurred one month after a fire at Afriland Towers on Lagos Island resulted in the death of at least 10 people.
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