Alaba International Market Amalgamated Executive members comprising officers from the 16 constituting market associations including Furniture, Electricals, Electronics, Cables/transformers, Solar Dealers, etc.
Fresh details have emerged on how the massive inferno that engulfed the Furniture wing of the sprawling Alaba International Market, Ojo LGA of Lagos State.
Otherwise, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has officially attributed the fire incident that gutted several furniture shops at the Alaba International Market, on Tuesday night, to an electrical spark caused by the negligence of shop owners.
In a statement issued made available to Business Hilights by the Senior Public Affairs Officer of the agency, Maria Fadairo, the service said the inferno broke out around 7:18 p.m. at 155 Olojo Drive, opposite Tantalisers, Alaba.
“Upon receiving the alert, the Ojo and Ijegun-Egba fire stations were immediately deployed to the scene.
“The incident involved multiple lock-up shops of varying sizes situated within a two-storey building occupying approximately 648 square metres, within a larger market premises spanning about five hectares,” the statement read.
The agency disclosed that preliminary investigations showed the fire started shortly after power was restored.
“The fire originated from the topmost floor of the building shortly after electricity was restored, due to negligence on the part of some shop owners,” the statement added.
According to the LFRS, efforts to put out the flames were initially hampered because most of the shops were closed at the time.
“Access to the affected areas proved challenging, as most shops were closed for the day, necessitating forced entry to gain access and suppress the fire, a delay that contributed to the spread of the flames, which was, however, confined to the floor,” it explained.
While noting that the affected shops reportedly dealt in furniture items and alternative power equipment and housed a law office, LFRS disclosed that no lives were lost.
“Firefighting operations were successfully concluded at 22:10 hours with the complementary efforts of personnel from the Federal Fire Service, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and the Ojo Police Division,” the statement noted.
