Market leaders seek collaboration with govt., discos to address recurring fire outbreaks
Some market leaders at the popular Lagos Island Market have emphasised the need for collaboration among the state government, electric distribution companies and traders, to address the recurring fire accidents in the market.
They spoke in separate interviews on Tuesday in Lagos, while reacting to the fire outbreak at Balogun Market area in the early hours of the day.
There have been several fire accidents in different markets in the state, leading to loss of goods, investments and properties running into billions of Naira.
Mr Charles Obih, President, The Market Leaders Association of Nigeria (TMLAN), said that there should be collaboration on how to minimise fire outbreaks in markets.
According to him, this collaboration should involved the Lagos State Government, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as well as the traders.
Obih added that fire stations must be situated at strategic areas in major markets across the state.
“We would do our best to further engage the government to be more proactive about handling these accidents.
“We would also do our best to sensitise traders in the markets on how best to prevent such things from happening again,” he said.
Mr Fuad Agboola, Chairman, Ereko community, Lagos Island, said that efforts must be made to educate traders on the use of fire extinguishers, to avert damages before the arrival of fire fighters.
He appealed to the electricity distribution companies to provide power, at least during the market hours, to reduce the use of power generating sets which had been identified as a cause of fire outbreaks.
“We must come together to sensitise traders on the need for fire extinguishers in various shops, while government provides fire service points, particularly during this dry season.
“As you know, the buildings here are too close to each other and it is very easy for fires to spread from one building to another this period.
“On our part, we always tell the traders to put off all electrical appliances and remove the fuses when leaving the markets; however, more still needs to be done to avert losses during any fire outbreak,” he said.
Mr Kamal Ayedun, Assistant Chief Imam, Idumota Mosque, noted that some traders in the market had illegally connected power, saying that could be a major reason for fire.
Ayedun added that some traders also keep petrol and other inflammable items in their shops just to have power, thereby compounding the problem if fire outbreak should occurs.
“While we know that some fire accidents are caused by the traders, the electricity distribution companies need to address the issue of high voltage sometimes being experienced in the markets.
“We always have to run to put off electrical appliances whenever the voltage is too high.
“The personnel of electricity distribution companies need to visit the market to recalibrate the power lines, address illegal connections and provide the right amount of power to tackle these fire accidents,” he said.
Mrs Sekinat Owowale, Iya Oloja, Irewolede Market, emphasised the need for proper landscaping in the markets.
According tho her, this will prevent fire outbreaks from easily spreading from one point to another.
