A fire broke out at SPAR Calabar Mall in Cross River State on Saturday morning, August 22, 2026. The incident reportedly followed an explosion at the shopping complex.

Thick smoke rose from the mall as emergency efforts began. The fire also caused panic among people around the area.

Explosion Reportedly Triggered Fire

Early reports linked the fire to what some people described as a minor gas or fuel explosion. However, authorities have not confirmed the cause of the incident.

Videos and photographs from the scene showed flames affecting part of the mall. People also gathered outside the complex as emergency teams worked to control the fire.

The exact point where the fire started remains unclear. Authorities are expected to examine the site as part of efforts to establish what caused the reported explosion.

Extent of Damage Remains Unknown

The full extent of the damage was not immediately clear. It was also not known how many shops, facilities or goods the fire may have affected.

There were no confirmed reports of deaths or injuries as of the time of filing this report. Officials have yet to provide a full account of the incident.

The situation also raised concerns among businesses operating within the shopping complex. A major fire can disrupt commercial activity and cause losses for retailers, property owners and other businesses.

Fire Safety and Commercial Buildings

The incident highlights the importance of fire safety in large commercial properties. Shopping malls often receive large numbers of visitors each day. They therefore require reliable fire detection and emergency systems.

Building owners and facility managers must keep fire alarms, extinguishers, emergency exits and other safety systems in good working order. Regular inspections can also help identify risks before they become serious incidents.

Fire safety also matters during the design and construction of commercial buildings. Developers must consider safe evacuation routes and other measures that can protect people during emergencies.

Implications for Real Estate and Infrastructure

The fire also brings attention to the wider issue of safety in Nigeria’s commercial real estate sector. Modern retail centres form an important part of urban infrastructure. Their safety can affect businesses, workers, shoppers and surrounding communities.

Property managers also play an important role after construction. They must maintain safety equipment and ensure that staff understand emergency procedures.

For developers and investors, building safety remains an important part of responsible property management. Strong safety systems can help protect lives, property and business operations.

Investigation Expected

Authorities are expected to investigate the reported explosion and fire at SPAR Calabar Mall. The investigation should help establish the cause of the incident and determine the extent of the damage.

Further details are expected as emergency agencies and relevant authorities assess the affected facility.

The incident serves as a reminder that fire prevention and emergency preparedness remain important parts of managing commercial buildings. Strong safety measures can help reduce risks and protect people and property when emergencies occur.

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The President of the Association of Facility Management Practitioners of Nigeria (AFMPN), Olumide Aina, has called for stronger investment in professional facility management, warning that poor maintenance culture continues to weaken the quality and sustainability of Nigeria’s built environment.

Aina made the call in a statement issued to commemorate World FM Day 2026, celebrated globally under the theme “Cultivating Belonging Through Built Environments.”

Poor Maintenance Culture Threatens Infrastructure

According to him, buildings and public infrastructure should no longer be viewed as projects that end once construction is completed.

He noted that facilities such as schools, hospitals, offices, markets, and residential estates play major roles in the daily lives of citizens and require proper maintenance to ensure safety and productivity.

“For too long in Nigeria, we have treated facility management as an afterthought. Buildings are built, handed over, and left to decay. Power fails, water leaks, elevators stop, and safety is compromised,” Aina said.

He stressed that neglecting maintenance often results in broader economic and social consequences beyond repair costs.

Declining Infrastructure Impacts Productivity

Aina explained that deteriorating facilities reduce efficiency, weaken public trust, and create barriers to social and economic progress.

According to him, infrastructure failures contribute to lost opportunities and declining confidence in institutions.

He described facility management professionals as vital contributors to national development because they help maintain safe, accessible, and sustainable environments.

“We are the professionals who ensure buildings remain safe, functional, sustainable, and inclusive,” he stated.

AFMPN Calls for More Training and Partnerships

The AFMPN president praised practitioners across several states including Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Benue, Port Harcourt, and Kano for their contributions toward improving standards and service delivery.

However, he urged stakeholders to strengthen the profession through increased investment in training, certification, and collaboration.

He said stronger partnerships involving government agencies, academic institutions, and industry players would help raise professional standards.

“We need more training, more certification, and stronger partnerships between government, academia, and industry,” he added.

Youth Encouraged to Explore Facility Management Careers

Aina also encouraged young Nigerians to consider facility management as a strategic and respected profession capable of driving economic growth and improving quality of life.

He further urged both public and private institutions to engage qualified facility managers from project planning stages rather than after construction.

“The cost of neglect is always higher than the cost of maintenance,” he warned.

He reaffirmed AFMPN’s commitment to strengthening professional capacity and promoting safer, better-managed environments nationwide.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a stern warning to real estate managers and property professionals across Nigeria, cautioning them against facilitating money laundering through property transactions.

The warning was delivered by EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede during a courtesy visit with executives of the Association of Real Estate and Property Managers (AREAPM) at the Commission’s Benin Zonal Directorate.

Olukoyede, speaking through Deputy Commander Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, emphasized the increasing trend of fraudsters channeling illicit funds into real estate as a means of concealing proceeds of crime.

“We have observed with grave concern that criminals are laundering money and hiding the proceeds of crime through property investments. Individuals now defraud the government and private entities before investing in real estate,” he stated.

The EFCC head described real estate managers as Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs), underscoring the importance of adhering to anti-money laundering regulations and maintaining professionalism. He warned that any breaches of the law would be met with strict enforcement actions.

Chairman Olukoyede also highlighted the EFCC’s Land and Property Fraud Section, which is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting cases of property-related financial crimes. He assured the association of the Commission’s readiness to collaborate in strengthening transparency, accountability, and investor confidence in the sector.

The Edo State Chairman of AREAPM, Akpesiri Egbonoje, expressed the association’s commitment to sanitizing the real estate sector and stressed the importance of a structured partnership with law enforcement. Egbonoje believes that collaboration with the EFCC will help curb financial crimes, protect investors, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

This warning comes amid growing concerns about the misuse of Nigerian real estate for illicit financial activities. The EFCC has intensified scrutiny of property transactions nationwide, as part of its broader mandate to fight economic and financial crimes.

Real estate professionals and property managers are now urged to conduct due diligence, report suspicious transactions, and comply with all EFCC and regulatory guidelines to avoid legal repercussions.

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The Lagos State Government has warned that it will revoke home allocations of residents in government-owned estates who violate estate regulations.

Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, gave the warning during a stakeholders’ forum at the Sir Michael Otedola Housing Estate, Epe. Represented by Permanent Secretary Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola, he said compliance with maintenance fees, insurance payments, and design standards is essential to preserving estate quality.

Toriola cautioned against unauthorized structural changes and warned that those yet to take possession of their homes risk losing them. He added that housing projects are for genuine residents, not speculators.

The Ministry, he said, is working with NDLEA and security agencies to identify residents involved in drug or criminal activities. Anyone found guilty will have their allocations revoked.

Residents were urged to pay facility fees promptly, report suspicious behavior, and support plans for alternative power solutions and infrastructure upgrades across estates.

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In a decisive move to rein in the activities of property agents and curb arbitrary rent increases, the Abia State House of Assembly has advanced two landmark bills aimed at reforming the state’s housing sector.

The legislative action includes the first reading of a bill sponsored by Hon. Egwuronu Mandela Obasi (Ohafia North), and the second reading of another sponsored by Deputy Speaker Austin Okezie Meregini (Umuahia East). Both bills seek to introduce greater oversight and consumer protection for tenants across the state.

If passed into law, the proposed legislation will mandate compulsory registration of all property agents with the Ministry of Housing. It will also criminalize the widespread practice of collecting rent from multiple tenants for the same property.

A key provision of the bill pegs the maximum agent’s fee at 5% of the rent, while also capping rent advances at six months, a move designed to ease financial pressure on tenants. Landlords will be prohibited from demanding, and tenants from paying, more than six months’ rent upfront.

The legislation also aims to tackle exploitative practices in the rental market, including hidden or excessive charges. It provides a legal framework to challenge such actions, classifying them as violations once the bill is enacted.

To further streamline the process of property recovery, the bill mandates that tenants must present proof of rent and utility payments when initiating or responding to tenancy-related litigation. Importantly, it also shields tenants from eviction while contesting rent hikes in court.

In a related development, the House passed into second reading H.A.B. 34 of 2025, also sponsored by Deputy Speaker Meregini, which complements the earlier bill by specifically targeting arbitrary rent increases and reinforcing protections for both tenants and landlords.

Commenting on the twin legislative efforts, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emereuwa, emphasized that the bills represent a proactive step towards bringing order, fairness, and accountability to the housing sector in Abia State.

“These bills are about doing the right thing, ensuring that both landlords and tenants are treated fairly, and that property transactions are conducted transparently,” he said.

The proposed reforms have been welcomed by housing advocates and tenant groups, who have long called for tighter regulation of the property market in the state.

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