Goods worth millions razed as fire guts Lagos’ Arena Market
Goods valued at millions of naira have been destroyed following a devastating fire at the popular Arena Market in Oshodi, Lagos.
According to witnesses, the inferno swept through multiple stalls, wiping out electronics, spare parts, and other valuable merchandise. Despite a swift response from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, which deployed teams and equipment to the scene, several businesses suffered irreparable losses.
The fire reportedly broke out on Monday evening around 9 p.m., spreading rapidly through the market before firefighters managed to bring it under control.
One of the worst-hit traders, Henry Nwankwo, a dealer in washing machines and spare parts, recounted his ordeal. “All my goods were affected, none of them survived. All of them were burned to ashes. I also do repairs for customers, and my customers’ properties were also destroyed. I got back from China two months ago because I imported washing machine spare parts, and the new goods were also affected,” he said.
Nwankwo noted that other traders in the vicinity also suffered heavy losses. “There are like four or five other shops that were affected by the fire, but the main damage was to my shop and my neighbor’s shop. My neighbor sells solar panels, and he also said most of his goods were lost in the fire,” he explained.
While the exact cause of the blaze remains unclear, some witnesses suggested it might have been triggered by an electrical fault from a nearby transformer or an unattended heat source.
Another onlooker commended the efforts of the emergency responders. “As at 10 p.m. yesterday, the fire service were here to help quench the fire. They entered the shops and came with two trucks in different positions and quickly helped to quench the fire from different directions,” the witness said.
Goods worth millions razed as fire guts Lagos’ Arena Market
