Traders suffer losses after Arena Market fire in Lagos
Traders at Arena Market in Oshodi, Lagos, have reported massive losses after a fire gutted several shops. Chris, a trader, blamed the fire’s spread on a lack of water in the market’s fire engine. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service responded quickly, but the fire still destroyed goods and cash. Shop owners are now left counting the cost of the incident.
What happened
- The fire broke out at Arena Market in the Bolade area of Oshodi, affecting ten shops made from five 40-foot containers.
- Chris said the market’s fire service initially arrived without water and had to leave to fetch more, allowing the fire to spread.
- The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived with one fire engine, but needed a second to help control the blaze.
- Chidi Nwafor, a teenage trader, said the fire spread rapidly due to the clothes stored in the containers.
- One trader lost about N11 million in cash that was kept in a drawer for restocking after the New Year celebration.
