►Building materials worth several millions of naira were at the early hours of yesterday destroyed by fire that engulfed a plank market in Abule-Egba area of Lagos.
►Over 50 shops were destroyed in the fire said to have been caused by power surge.
►Over 50 shops were destroyed in the fire said to have been caused by power surge.
Also, two vehicles, a commercial bus and a Toyota saloon car parked in the market, were burnt.
Yesterday’s incident brings to three, the number of markets burnt in three months.
Chat212 gathered that there was power surge which resulted in a spark, then fire from one of the shops.
A truck with 10,000 litres of water from Agege fire station, according to the Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe, was drafted to the scene. Two other trucks from Ikeja and Ikotun stations, he said, were also dispatched.
According to Fadipe,“the trucks were positioned strategically to cut the fire from where it was heading and were able to contain it to the arena.
“So far, 50 shops, made up of iron sheets, planks, cutting machines and other building materials in a row of three, were consumed by the fire. No life was lost, neither was anyone injured.”
Fadipe indicts market executives
Expressing concern over the impact of such fire on the affected owners as well as the nation’s economy, Fadipe said the failure on the part of executives of markets in Lagos to heed the agreement reached between them and the fire service caused the incident.
“In January 2014, we held a meeting with executives of plank markets in Lagos, where we advised them on fire security measures but they failed to heed the advice. Since the meeting, three markets have been razed by fire,“ he said.
He highlighted the need for the establishment of a hydrant location as well as segmentation of wares in the markets as part of measures aimed at forestalling fire incidents.
“There is also the need for centralised power generator in the markets as against the situation where each trader has his power generating set and kegs of petroleum products in his shop, which usually spark up fire in the event of fire incident.
“The need for segmentation can never be over emphasised. By this I mean , each product should be assigned to a row in the market. That way, if there is any fire outbreak, we will know where to concentrate on and how to safeguard such area.”
Meanwhile, the affected traders, some of who rushed to the scene when they were informed, could not salvage any of their wares. Those whose rows were not affected succeeded in taking their wares outside the market. Unfortunately, some of them lost their wares to hoodlums who pretended to be helping out.
Policemen from Abule-Egba who arrived the scene, prevented hoodlums who attempted to hijack the situation to steal.
Traders recount ordeal
A trader who sells drinks and recharge cards at the market said she lost over N200,000 to the fire while another trader, Mrs. Bola Shotobu, lamented that she lost two deep freezers, electricity generating set, recharge cards and an unspecified amount of money.
When Chat212 visited the scene, the traders were seen trying to erect new structures while some were still searching for their valuables.
Mr. Abiodun Sule, a resident of Awori community, who spoke with Chat212 called on the relevant authorities to take adequate steps to avert future occurrence.
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