A sudden fire outbreak on Tuesday evening tore through parts of Arena Shopping Mall along Agege Motor Road in Oshodi, Lagos, shocking traders and commuters in the busy commercial hub.
The incident was unexpected, especially as the mall had only recently recovered from a similar disaster months ago.
According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the fire was reported shortly after rush hour.
In a post shared on X, the agency confirmed the situation, saying, “There’s a fire outbreak inside Arena Shopping Mall along Agege Motor Road, Oshodi.
Men of @LagosRescue are on the ground to extinguish the inferno.” The update quickly drew public attention as videos and images spread online.
Emergency responders arrived swiftly, while traffic around the area was managed to allow rescue operations.
Meanwhile, thick smoke was seen rising from the mall, causing panic among shop owners and passersby.
Some sections of the shopping complex were already engulfed before firefighters gained control.
However, as of press time, the cause of the fire had not been confirmed.
The extent of damage was also still being assessed. Officials on the ground were focused on preventing the fire from spreading further, while affected traders waited anxiously for updates.
Fortunately, no casualties had been reported at the time of filing this report.
This Arena Shopping Mall fire outbreak has raised renewed concerns about fire safety in Lagos markets.
Moreover, the incident comes barely four months after the same mall was gutted by fire in August.
That earlier blaze disrupted business activities for weeks and led to calls for stronger safety enforcement.
In addition, the latest incident follows another tragic fire in Lagos. On Christmas Eve, a blaze at the 22-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, claimed at least three lives and left 12 others injured.
That tragedy had already intensified public debate on building safety and emergency response readiness.
Meanwhile, residents and business owners have continued to question the effectiveness of safety measures in large commercial centres.
Some traders expressed fears that repeated fire incidents could destroy livelihoods permanently if urgent steps are not taken.
Therefore, safety experts have urged market managers and government agencies to improve inspections, electrical checks, and emergency access points.
Furthermore, they stress that lessons must be learned from recurring incidents to avoid future losses.
