Mile 12 Market Fire Sparks Fresh Call For Traders To Protect Investments
By Sherif Salau
The recent gas explosion-induced fire at Akanimodo Market, Mile 12, has sparked concerns over the safety of traders’ shops, goods and business investments, prompting fresh calls for stricter fire prevention measures across Lagos markets.
The blaze, which broke out in the afternoon, was traced to a gas explosion inside one of the shanties within the market. The explosion ignited highly combustible materials, allowing the flames to spread rapidly to adjoining structures built largely of wooden planks and other flammable materials. The affected area was occupied mainly by plastic recycling operators, some of whom also used the structures as living quarters.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) responded swiftly. Its Tiger Response Team was activated shortly after 2 p.m. and arrived at the scene within minutes. Bystanders had already begun initial firefighting efforts before the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service reached the location. Emergency crews faced difficulties gaining access because of congestion and limited pathways, but they eventually contained the fire. Dampening-down operations followed to eliminate residual flames and hotspots.
No lives were lost and no injuries were recorded.
In an official statement issued after the operation, LASEMA Permanent Secretary Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu confirmed that a final safety assessment found no remaining fire hazards. He issued a clear advisory to traders and residents: “LASEMA urges traders and residents to adhere strictly to fire safety regulations, ensure proper handling and storage of cooking gas cylinders and avoid unsafe cooking practices within congested and combustible structures.”
The incident has renewed calls for market operators to take greater responsibility for safeguarding their investments. Many traders in Mile 12 and similar markets keep their entire stock and capital in structures that offer little resistance to fire. A single explosion or electrical fault can wipe out years of savings within hours. The presence of cooking gas cylinders inside crowded wooden shanties, combined with limited access routes for emergency vehicles, continues to pose a recurring risk.
While emergency agencies demonstrated a coordinated response, the episode underscores that prevention remains the more reliable form of protection. Proper storage of gas cylinders, reduced use of highly flammable building materials, clearer access paths and collective vigilance among traders could limit the scale of future losses.
