Association expresses worry over recurring fire incidents in markets

The Market Traders Association of Nigeria (MATAN) has expressed concern over recurring fire incidents in markets across the country.

The President of the association, Alhaji Jamilu Abbas, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday described the situation as worrisome.

Abbas was reacting to fire incident that occurred in Kubo furniture market in Abuja on Sunday.

The fire razed some shops, destroyed furniture worth millions of naira at the Kugbo furniture market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The MATAN president urged traders to take necessary precautions to prevent reoccurring of such incidents especially this period that items were easily inflamable owing to harmattan season.

He appealed to Federal, State and Local Governments to provide fire stations in markets that would promptly respond to any possible sudden fire outbreak.

He stated that the fire disaster ravaging markets and destroying properties of traders was “one too many hence the need to take proactive measures to tackle them.

“Fires like these, can be regarded as natural disaster. But it could be man-made too. That is why we need to take necessary measures to prevent the ones within our reach.

”Traders should be sensitized on the need to be fire conscious, including observance of no smoking. Cooking by restaurants and bukkas should be closely monitored,” he stated.

Abbas recalled that in less than two weeks no fewer than 252 makeshift shops were razed by fire at the Galadima Market in Gwarimpa, Abuja.

He added that about 40 shops were also destroyed in an inferno in Potiskum market, Yobe where millions of naira were lost in the last two weeks.

The president also commiserated with all the affected persons who lost properties to the inferno and prayed to God to provide the means for them to get back to business.

He however appealed to government at all levels to compensate the affected traders who had incurred losses due to the fire disaster.