A fire has destroyed shops and goods at the Jabi Building Materials Market in Abuja, leaving traders facing losses estimated at millions of naira.
The blaze reportedly started at about 03:00 local time on Sunday at the market, which is located opposite Chida Hotel in the Jabi district of the Federal Capital Territory.
An eyewitness told the Nigerian Television Authority that traders and residents rushed to the market after receiving an emergency call about the fire.
He said his brother-in-law owned two shops and a storage facility at the affected plaza. One shop was saved, while the second shop and the storage facility were destroyed.
According to the witness, roofing materials valued at more than ₦20 million were lost. Some of the goods had reportedly been restocked shortly before the fire broke out.
No deaths were reported, although the full extent of the damage to other businesses at the market had not been determined at the time of publication.
The cause of the fire also remains unknown, and emergency authorities have yet to release an official assessment of the incident.
The latest outbreak is expected to renew concerns about fire-prevention measures, emergency access and insurance protection in Nigeria’s major commercial markets.
Investigations are expected to establish how the fire started and determine the total value of the property destroyed.
