NEMA confirmed that a fire at Mandilas Market in Lagos destroyed four buildings and 200 shops, injured one person, and was contained through coordinated emergency response.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that four buildings and about 200 shops were destroyed in a fire outbreak at Mandilas Market on Lagos Island.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Friday, NEMA said the fire began around 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday from a faulty changeover switch in one of the buildings before spreading to adjoining structures stocked with highly flammable goods such as clothes, footwear, and plastics.
Emergency responders, including the Federal and Lagos State Fire Services, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency Response Unit, and other stakeholders, battled the inferno overnight. Their joint efforts eventually contained the blaze, preventing it from spreading further.
“One individual sustained injuries from smoke inhalation and is currently receiving treatment at a nearby health facility,” NEMA said, adding that police secured the area to avert looting.
NEMA commended the swift coordination of response agencies and stressed the need for greater fire safety awareness in congested markets.
“This incident highlights the urgent need for heightened safety precautions in markets where combustible goods are stored,” the agency said.