Parts of the Yaba market in Lagos were destroyed in a fire outbreak in the early hours of Saturday, sending traders and residents into panic. The incident, which began around 3 a.m., ravaged several shops in the Popo section of the market, with eyewitnesses estimating that goods worth millions of naira were lost. Videos shared online showed flames consuming sections of the market as thick smoke filled the air, while traders scrambled to rescue belongings. Lugar Feliz, an eyewitness who streamed parts of the event on TikTok, confirmed that firefighters arrived at the scene. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has not issued an official statement, and calls to Controller General Margaret Adeseye went unanswered. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and the full extent of the damage has not been disclosed. This marks another in a series of fire incidents across Lagos, including a December 2025 blaze at Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, which destroyed a clothing warehouse, killed at least 12 people, and left many injured.
The repeated failure to secure official comment from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, especially after multiple major fires, raises serious concerns about accountability. The December 2025 fire that killed 12 people was not an isolated tragedy, yet there is no public record of corrective measures. When agencies like Margaret Adeseye's remain inaccessible after disasters, it signals a system operating without urgency or transparency. For traders in Yaba and beyond, this pattern means operating in constant risk, with little assurance that safety is a priority.
