Between January 2023 and April 2025, no fewer than 42 market fires swept through major commercial hubs in 11 Nigerian states, destroying goods and properties estimated at over ₦30 billion.
According to findings by Daily Sun, Lagos State has been the worst hit, recording 17 major fire outbreaks during the period. The most catastrophic occurred on January 21, 2024, when a raging inferno engulfed the Mandilas building in Balogun Market. The 14-storey structure—home to 450 shops, 30 offices, two hotels, and five restaurants—was completely gutted, leaving behind shattered livelihoods and massive financial losses.
The devastation has not been limited to the South-West. In Northern Nigeria, Kano State alone has suffered seven fire incidents since 2023. The latest occurred on April 18, 2025, at Kurmi Market, where six shops were destroyed. Earlier in the year, Yan Katako Market in the same state reported damages exceeding ₦150 million.
In the South-East, Anambra State's Nkpor Main Market fire in December 2023 led to losses estimated at ₦300 million. Kwara State also witnessed two major incidents, including the 2023 blaze at Oja Tuntun Market, which obliterated merchandise valued at more than ₦25 billion, one of the highest single-incident losses recorded nationwide.
Despite the frequency and severity of these incidents, many Nigerian markets remain woefully ill-equipped for fire emergencies. In Anambra, firefighting infrastructure is either outdated or nonexistent.
According to Chibuzo Okonkwo, a trader at Relief Market in Onitsha, most of the state's 33 markets, including New Parts, Mgbuka Mmazu, Ochanja, Head Bridge, and Electricals, have no functional fire trucks. "In each line of Relief Market, you might see one fire extinguisher cylinder, but fire service trucks are practically nonexistent," he lamented.
Okonkwo recalled multiple fire incidents in Ochanja Market, one triggered by a fuel tanker accident, and another of unknown cause that broke out at night. "A lady died during the tanker fire. In Mgbuka, an electrical surge led to the blaze," he added.
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Compensation for victims remains rare. "I'm not aware of any state government compensation. Victims usually rely on town unions, religious bodies, or personal networks," Okonkwo said, citing an example where fellow traders raised funds to support an affected colleague.
Government officials acknowledge the problem but attribute most incidents to negligence. Shakiru Amodu, Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Fire Service, revealed that electrical surges, gas leaks, and human carelessness were the leading causes. "We've conducted several market sensitisation campaigns, but about 80% of fires result from traders' carelessness," he noted.
The ripple effects are particularly severe for small and medium-scale traders in the informal sector. In markets like Akere and Alaba Rago in Lagos, many victims said they received little or no help from the state, despite losing millions in inventory.
Other states have also borne the brunt of the growing trend. In Abia, a March 2023 fire in Aba destroyed over ₦10 million worth of spare parts. Plateau State's Katako Timber Market and Jos Terminus Market both suffered massive losses in November 2024 and April 2025, respectively. Similar tragedies have occurred in Adamawa, Nasarawa, Borno, and Rivers states, with entire sections of markets reduced to ashes.
Stakeholders insist that the rising frequency of market fires signals an urgent need for systemic reforms, including modern fire prevention strategies, functional infrastructure, and structured support for victims. Until such interventions are implemented, market traders across Nigeria will remain trapped between the challenges of daily commerce and the looming threat of fire.
