NEMA Begins Relief Process After Tejuosho Market Fire

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Monday disclosed that it had assessed losses from a fire incident that destroyed sections of Tejuosho Market in Lagos and displaced traders.

In a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) page, the agency disclosed that its Lagos operations office conducted a post-disaster assessment at the popular Tejuosho Market, Yaba, following the fire incident that displaced scores of traders and residents in the area.

According to NEMA, the assessment followed a formal request for relief assistance by the lawmaker representing Surulere I Federal Constituency, Hon. Fuad Kayode Laguda.

Acting on a directive from the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation, officials were deployed to ascertain the cause, scale and impact of the inferno, which razed makeshift market structures within Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Findings from the assessment revealed that the fire resulted in the complete destruction of shops, residential makeshift shelters and numerous valuables within the market.

The agency noted that all traders and residents affected by the incident were displaced and are currently without access to their means of livelihood.

Items lost to the fire included industrial sewing machines, tailoring materials, kitchen utensils, household wares, plumbing materials, assorted drinks and other goods belonging to traders operating within the market.

NEMA explained that the assessment team comprised officials of its Lagos Operations Office, representatives of the market community and a liaison officer from the office of the Surulere I Federal Constituency lawmaker.

The outcome of the assessment, the agency said, will guide appropriate humanitarian interventions, relief support and response planning for the affected victims.

In a related development, NEMA disclosed that its Abuja Operations Office had joined other key stakeholders to tackle traffic gridlock along the Abuja–Lokoja Federal Highway, a critical transit corridor linking the Federal Capital Territory to several southern and north-central states.

The intervention was carried out under Operation Eagle Eye, NEMA’s annual initiative designed to support traffic management and enhance road safety during periods of heightened movement, particularly during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Officials of the Abuja Operations Office collaborated with sister agencies to conduct on-the-spot traffic control, manage congestion and ensure the smooth flow of vehicles along strategic sections of the highway.

The agency said its presence on the corridor helped decongest traffic bottlenecks, address emerging incidents promptly and provide safety guidance to motorists.

NEMA noted that the Abuja–Lokoja route experiences heavy traffic during the festive season due to increased movement by commuters, traders and holidaymakers, which makes coordinated intervention crucial to preventing accidents and prolonged gridlock.

Operation Eagle Eye, the agency explained, complements the efforts of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other security and emergency response agencies through personnel deployment, coordination support and enhanced rapid-response capacity during peak travel periods.

The Abuja Operations Office reaffirmed its commitment to sustained collaboration with relevant stakeholders throughout the festive season to ensure safer travel, protect lives and property, and guarantee timely emergency response along major highways within its area of responsibility.