Lagos – The Orisumbare Market Association, Mile 12, on Sunday appealed to the Federal and State governments to establish fire service stations at major markets across the country.
The leader of the association, Mrs Modupe Ojo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that siting fire points at markets would accelerate prompt response to combat fire emergency.
“The location of fire points in markets will ensure that losses arising from fire disasters are checked before they escalate.
“It is not ideal that we have to wait for fire service trucks from Ojuelegba, Maryland and Ikeja, for rescue during fire outbreak.
“When fire occurs in a market, it affects not only the traders but also cripples trading activities which translates to economic loss of revenue for the government,’’ she told NAN.
Ojo said that the association in collaboration with relevant government agencies had embarked on fire safety sensitisation of traders to improve their knowledge of handling situation during fire outbreak.
A plank seller at Ketu Market, Mr Muyideen Adetunji said that government’s attention was more concentrated on attracting foreign investors than protecting local businesses.
“Traders are contributing immensely to the country’s Gross Domestic Product without commensurate protection of the same investments by the government who seems to be oblivious of our plight.
“The impact of losses suffered by traders during fire incidents goes beyond financial losses as some never recover from the shock and eventually die.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“It has been observed from past fire incidents that nearness of fire stations to the location of fire outbreaks will reduce the spread of the fire, just like in the Ojuelegba fire disasters,’’ Adetunji said.
He urged governments to take as priority for economic growth, issues affecting traders in the country.
NAN reports that on Jan. 28, over 200 shops with goods worth millions of naira were destroyed by fire at the Ketu Sawmill Market. (NAN)