A fierce fire outbreak on Tuesday evening threw the bustling Army Arena Market in Oshodi, Lagos, into chaos, leaving traders in a state of panic and despair as flames consumed several sections of the popular commercial hub.
Chaos and Desperation as Flames Engulf Market
The inferno reportedly began around 6 pm on Tuesday, 30 December 2025. Distressing videos that quickly circulated on social media platform X showed the scale of the emergency. Traders were seen in a frantic scramble, desperately trying to salvage their goods from the advancing flames as thick, dark smoke enveloped the entire area. The clips captured loud cries for help amidst the confusion.
In a separate video from the scene, personnel from the Lagos State Fire Service were observed battling the blaze, working to prevent it from spreading further. However, the intensity of the fire posed a significant challenge to the emergency responders.
A Recurring Tragedy for Lagos Traders
This incident marks a painful and familiar pattern for the city's business community. The Arena Market fire comes just one week after a similar tragedy struck the famous Balogun Market in Lagos Island. On Christmas Eve, a fire that originated at the Great Nigeria Insurance building on Martins Street rapidly spread, gutting five other adjoining buildings and inflicting heavy losses on traders.
Alarmingly, Tuesday's fire was not even the first at the Arena Market this year. In August 2025, a major inferno swept through the same market, with traders losing goods worth millions of naira. While official reports at the time pointed to a power surge as the cause, some traders disputed that claim, highlighting ongoing concerns about the market's safety infrastructure.
Unquantified Losses and a Call for Action
At the time this report was filed, there were no official statements regarding casualties or the estimated value of goods destroyed in the latest Arena Market fire. The lack of immediate figures underscores the scale of the assessment still required.
The back-to-back market fires in Lagos within a week have raised serious questions about fire safety preparedness in the state's major trading centers. Traders are now facing repeated devastating financial setbacks, calling for urgent intervention from relevant authorities to prevent future occurrences.
