CITIZENS COMPASS— Goods worth Millions of Naira were on Sunday, destroyed when fire broke out at Oke Isalu Market, Ikotun, Lagos State.
Fortunately, there was no loss of life or injuries sustained when the fire outbreak occurred in the morning.
Confirming the incident, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), in his updates said:
The Lagos State Government has once again demonstrated its swift, coordinated and life-saving emergency response capacity with the prompt containment of a fire outbreak that occurred on Sunday morning, 15th November, 2026, at Oke Isalu Market, Ikotun.
Upon receipt of the distress call, the Agency’s Beta Team stationed at Igando was immediately dispatched and arrived at the scene within minutes, underscoring the effectiveness of the strategic prepositioning of emergency responders across the state by the administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.
On arrival, responders discovered that several shops were already on fire at the market. Preliminary investigation conducted at the scene revealed that the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, but that it started from one of the shops and quickly spread to others, ravaging about ten shops before the intervention of responders.
Through the combined and courageous efforts of the Agency’s Response Team and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the fire was curtailed from spreading further to adjoining shops, thereby preventing what could have become a far more devastating inferno in one of the busiest commercial hubs in the Alimosho axis.
To the glory of God and the professionalism of the responders, no casualty was recorded in the incident. This remains the most important outcome of the operation, as the Lagos State Government places the preservation of human life above all else. The Government, however, acknowledges with deep sympathy that goods worth millions of naira were lost to the fire, and it shares in the pain of the affected traders whose livelihoods have been impacted.
The response to the incident reflected the strength of inter-agency collaboration that defines emergency management in Lagos State. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency worked seamlessly alongside the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and the Nigeria Police from Ikotun to secure the scene, manage traffic, maintain order, protect lives and property, and ensure the safe and orderly conduct of firefighting operations.
Through this coordinated effort, the fire was successfully put under control, damping down was carried out thoroughly to prevent reignition, and the operation was thereafter concluded with the Response Team returning to base.
The Lagos State Government expresses its heartfelt sympathy to all traders affected by the fire and assures them of its continued commitment to their welfare and to the safety of markets across the state. The Government also commends the gallantry, discipline and professionalism of all responders whose timely intervention saved lives and preserved many more shops and goods from destruction.
The Government uses this moment to appeal passionately to market leaders, traders and residents to remain vigilant, avoid the indiscriminate storage of highly flammable materials, ensure proper electrical connections in shops, switch off electrical appliances after the close of business, and promptly report any sign of fire or emergency. Early reporting saves lives, saves property and saves livelihoods.
The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, remains fully committed to a safer Lagos where help arrives on time, emergencies are professionally managed, and lives and property are protected at all times. Residents are encouraged to promptly report emergencies through the Lagos State Emergency Toll-Free Lines, 767 and 112.
