A devastating fire broke out late on Monday night, February 24, and raged into the early hours of Saturday morning, causing widespread destruction at the popular Ladipo Market in Lagos, southwest Nigeria. The inferno engulfed more than 200 shops, reducing goods worth millions of naira to ashes and leaving many traders devastated.
Ladipo Market, known as the largest motor spare parts hub in Nigeria, attracts buyers and sellers from across the country seeking both new and fairly used vehicle components. The fire started in the Aguiyi Ironsi section of the market, an area renowned for trading in Tokunbo (imported used) car engines and other automotive parts.
Eyewitnesses described how the flames spread rapidly, consuming entire rows of shops filled with valuable spare parts. A two-story building housing multiple businesses was completely gutted, along with several nearby structures. Countless car engines, gearboxes, and other essential vehicle parts were destroyed, leaving traders counting their losses.
Firefighters and emergency responders worked tirelessly to extinguish the blaze, but by the time it was brought under control, the damage was severe. Many business owners expressed their anguish, noting that they had no insurance coverage to help them rebuild.
The incident has sparked urgent conversations about fire safety in Nigerian markets, with many calling on the government to improve infrastructure, provide better firefighting equipment, and enforce stricter safety regulations to prevent future disasters.
For the traders of Ladipo Market, the fire is a heartbreaking setback — but for the wider community, it’s a call to action to ensure such tragedies are prevented in the future.
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