Lekki Market Blaze Destroys 48 Shops in Early Morning Fire
Story: written by Zara December 15,2025
An early morning fire swept through the Elegushi Model Market in Lekki, Lagos, destroying at least 48 shops, officials have confirmed.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed the incident in a statement on Sunday, saying the agency received an alert around 2 a.m. and immediately dispatched teams to the scene, where the market was already ablaze.
Oke-Osanyintolu explained that LASEMA’s emergency response units quickly contained the fire, preventing further destruction. Preliminary investigations by the agency’s Shark Response Team revealed that the blaze started from a makeshift stall within the market before spreading to the main building. Thankfully, no casualties or injuries were reported.
“The fire began at one of the temporary stalls and rapidly escalated to the main structure. The exact cause is still under investigation. Fortunately, no lives were lost, and no injuries occurred. Coordinated actions by all stakeholders ensured the fire was fully extinguished and neighboring properties were spared,” he said.
Post-incident assessments confirmed that 48 shops were affected by the blaze.
The Permanent Secretary also highlighted the importance of fire safety and preparedness for market traders.
“Traders have been advised on fire prevention measures. The market union was instructed to place fire extinguishers at strategic points to manage minor incidents before they escalate. Shop owners are encouraged to install smoke detectors and fire alarms and remain vigilant against potential fire hazards,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.
Authorities are continuing to assess the full extent of the damage and are working with market officials to strengthen fire safety protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Separately, Lagos recently witnessed another major fire on Thursday, December 12, at the Berger Trailer Park, also known as Berger Suya in Olodi-Apapa, Ajegunle, where several trailers, container shops, and heaps of abandoned tyres were destroyed.
