A devastating weekend fire swept through Eda Plaza, a prominent building materials market in the Jabi district of Abuja, destroying shops and property estimated at hundreds of millions of naira.
​The outbreak began at approximately 3:30 PM on Sunday, August 30, 2026. Witnesses reported seeing thick plumes of black smoke rising from the commercial complex, located directly opposite the Chida International Hotel along Solomon Lar Way.
The flames quickly spread through the tightly packed rows of shops, fuelled by flammable inventory including PVC pipes, paints, timber, and electrical fittings.
​Firefighters from the Federal Fire Service (FFS) and the FCT Fire Service arrived at the scene shortly before 4:15 PM to combat the blaze. Responders worked for nearly three hours to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby commercial structures and residential quarters.
No loss of life or severe injuries were reported, as most shops were closed for the Sunday break, leaving only security personnel and a few traders on site. At least 25 shops were completely gutted, alongside warehouse spaces used to store heavy construction supplies.
​Speaking to reporters at the scene, the Public Relations Officer for the FCT Fire Service, Paul Abraham, confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the inferno is underway.
​”Our men arrived promptly after receiving a distress call at around 3:40 PM,” Abraham stated. “While we successfully localized the fire and prevented further spread to adjacent properties, several units within the plaza sustained total damage.
Preliminary investigations suggest an electrical surge, but our official report will be released once forensic assessments are complete.”
​Traders rushed to the plaza upon hearing the news, though many could only watch helplessly as firefighters tackled the flames. Chief Emeka Okonkwo, Chairman of the Eda Plaza Traders Association, described the incident as a catastrophic blow to the local business community.
​”Many of our members just received new shipments of imported hardware and plumbing materials late Friday evening,” Okonkwo said. “We are estimating losses in hundreds of millions of naira. We appeal to the FCT Minister and emergency relief agencies to step in and support the affected business owners.”
​Damping-down operations continued into late Sunday evening as emergency crews monitored hot spots to prevent reignition. Officials have advised members of the public to avoid the immediate perimeter of Eda Plaza while structural integrity assessments are conducted on the damaged building.
