A major fire has swept through parts of the popular SPAR Mall in Calabar, leaving shops badly damaged, goods destroyed and business owners counting heavy losses.
The fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday, Aug. 22, at the shopping complex in Cross River State. Thick black smoke could be seen rising above the building as firefighters, workers and residents rushed to the scene.
For traders whose businesses were caught in the blaze, the morning quickly turned into a desperate attempt to save whatever they could.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as workers and shop owners moved goods out of the affected areas while firefighters battled to stop the flames from spreading. Some traders were seen crying as they watched years of investment disappear in the fire.
Sections containing a pharmacy, clothing outlet, perfumery and phone shop were among those affected. Early estimates put the losses at millions of naira, although some traders feared the eventual figure could be much higher. Authorities have not yet announced an official value for the damage.
Fortunately, police said no deaths had been recorded in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
Attention has now turned to what caused the fire.
Cross River State police spokesperson Sunday Eitokpah said an electrical fault was considered a possible cause, but an investigation was still underway. The state government similarly said the incident had been preceded by a minor electrical fault, while stressing that the exact cause remained under investigation.
The Cross River State Government expressed sympathy to SPAR operator Artee Group, other businesses and workers affected by the fire.
Commissioner for Information and Orientation Ekpenyong Ene Cobham said relevant emergency and safety agencies had been directed to investigate the incident and assist those affected. He also praised firefighters from the Cross River State Fire Service, University of Calabar and Federal Fire Service for helping bring the blaze under control.
Deputy Gov. Peter Odey also visited the mall on behalf of Gov. Bassey Otu. He met with people affected by the fire and said the government would provide support to help businesses recover and resume operations.
The state’s Commissioner for Commerce, Abigail Duke Orok, later said the National Emergency Management Agency, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency and Nigerian Red Cross had begun documenting the losses as part of relief and recovery efforts.
But the emergency also brought another problem: looting.
Police said five people were arrested after allegedly being found with items stolen from the mall during the confusion surrounding the fire. Security personnel were deployed around the complex to protect property and prevent further theft.
The incident has generated concern among Calabar residents, particularly because the mall is one of the city’s best-known shopping destinations. Videos shared online showed flames and heavy smoke pouring from the complex, while other footage captured people hurriedly removing cartons and other goods.
One local content creator who filmed the scene said property worth millions of naira had already been destroyed as the fire continued. His reaction reflected the shock of residents watching one of the city’s prominent commercial centres burn.
The fire also revives a familiar concern in Nigeria: devastating fires at markets and commercial centres.
Over the years, major markets and shopping areas in Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, Onitsha and other cities have suffered fires that destroyed businesses and wiped out traders’ savings. Electrical faults, unsafe wiring, overloaded circuits and difficulties reaching fires quickly have repeatedly featured in investigations and public discussions following such disasters.
For Calabar, the impact goes beyond the physical damage to the building. Shops inside the complex provide jobs and income for workers, suppliers and small business owners. Even a temporary interruption can affect people whose livelihoods depend on daily commercial activity at the mall.
The incident is also likely to raise fresh questions about fire prevention and emergency preparedness in large commercial buildings across Cross River State.
For the business owners affected, however, those wider questions come after a much more immediate concern: how to rebuild.
Many arrived at the mall expecting another ordinary Saturday of business. Instead, they watched firefighters battle flames while workers carried out whatever merchandise they could rescue.
Investigators must now establish exactly how the fire started and determine the full extent of the losses. For those who lost shops, stock and equipment, recovery may take considerably longer.
