last night gutted Aguda market in Surulere, Lagos State.
The inferno happened late in the night when shop owners have closed for the day. The level of destruction is yet to be ascertained.
A similar incident happened at the market in 2011, where about 106 shops were burnt and goods worth millions of naira was destroyed.
Fire incidences have become rampant in Lagos markets in recent times. In May, over 120 shops were completely razed with others partially affected at Daleko Market, Mushin.
In July, goods worth millions of naira were destroyed when fire gutted parts of Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos.
In August, a fire incident at the plank market in Ebute Metta area of Lagos State destroyed goods worth millions of naira. It was also learnt that the fire consumed about five bungalows in the area. Another plank market, the Awori Plank Market located in Abule-Egba was in September gutted by fire which destroyed goods worth millions of naira.
Most of the fire incidences were blamed on electrical surge. However, the cause of the Aguda Market fire cannot be immediately confirmed.
The Lagos State government will do well to have a critical look at the frequent fire incidences across markets in the state and proffer a solution to reduce such in future.