• Blaze destroys 20 shops as traders allege lack of waterIt was a shattered dream for traders at the popular Nigerian Army Shopping Complex, Bolade-Oshodi, also known as Arena, after a section of the market was engulfed in fire. The Arena fire occurred eight days after a train collision in the same area, where a driver and others narrowly escaped death. The incident also came as fire continued to damage what remains of the 25-storey Great Nigeria Insurance Company building on Martins Street, Lagos Island. “Unfortunately, there was no water in Arena Market, and that contributed to the spread. The inferno at the Great Nigeria Insurance Company building broke out at about 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, December 25, 2025.

Source: The Guardian January 01, 2026 17:07 UTC