Billions of Naira Lost by Igbo Businessmen in Preventable Mandilas Market Inferno
Lagos, Nigeria (21 September 2025)
A devastating fire tore through the historic Mandilas Market on Lagos Island late on Tuesday, 16 September 2025, reducing four multi-storey commercial buildings to smouldering shells and destroying an estimated 120–200 shops, run by hardworking Igbo textile traders.
According to an on-scene statement from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the blaze broke out around 7:00 p.m. and spread with frightening speed through the tightly packed market.
“Four adjoining buildings housing scores of shops were gutted. One person suffered smoke inhalation and is receiving treatment,” NEMA confirmed.
The on-scene statement from NEMA blamed the fire on a faulty changeover electrical switch; however, several eyewitnesses quickly dismissed that explanation. They argued that it was too quick to come to a conclusion; they also argued that the burning of Igbo markets in Lagos has become alarmingly routine and called for a thorough, independent investigation.
Witnesses described a night of chaos and heartbreak as traders scrambled to salvage bolts of fabric, shoes, and imported goods worth what victims estimate to be billions of naira. “Everything I’ve worked for is gone,” sobbed Mrs. Ifeoma Okeke, a trader who had stocked up for the festive season. Social-media videos showed flames leaping above the skyline while frantic shop owners watched helplessly, some collapsing in grief as the fire devoured their life savings.
“Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service crews, backed by police and emergency teams, took very long to arrive at the scene. By the time they arrived, the damage was already catastrophic,” Mr. Abiodun Olu lamented.
Members of the traders’ association urged the state government to provide immediate relief and to launch a comprehensive safety audit of all Lagos Island markets.
Economists warn of wider repercussions. Mandilas Market is a key node in Nigeria’s textile supply chain; the sudden loss of inventory and temporary closure will ripple through wholesalers, transporters, and port-linked businesses in the weeks and months ahead.
Authorities have promised to open a full investigation while pledging assistance. NEMA and the Lagos State Government said they would coordinate relief for affected traders and verify claims of loss. Four days later, victims remain hopeful the government will keep its promise. Insurance coverage is limited for most stallholders, leaving many dependent on emergency credit or government grants to rebuild.
The Mandilas inferno is the latest in a troubling pattern of Lagos Island Igbo market blazes. Analysts say that without rigorous investigations and stronger safety measures, similar disasters are inevitable. The lack of thorough inquiry and timely assistance has fueled rumours that the recurring infernos in Igbo markets may be targeted attacks.
For now, Mandilas’ blackened walls stand as a stark reminder of both the entrepreneurial spirit and the fragility of Nigeria’s informal economy where in a single night, decades of work and generational wealth can vanish in smoke.
