CHUKWUEBUKA OHIZU
Sir Alphonsus Udeigbo, President General of Abia State Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), has called on governments, developers of market and other stakeholders to see the construction of concrete buildings as panacea to the incessant incidences of inferno in the markets.
Udeigbo, who is also the chairman of all chairmen of Aba traders, spoke on the heels of the fire incident that razed the popular Nnewi Spare Parts Plaza on Tuesday, January 14 ,2025 .
The ASMATA President further advocated the compulsory establishment of functional service stations at all markets across Nigeria to help combat possible inferno and reduce huge damage.
DAILY NEWS NIGERIA gathered that the
unfortunate late night inferno, caused a monumental loss to the traders, with goods worth several billions of naira said to have been lost.
Udeigbo in a statement issued today, Thursday 16, January in Aba, said that spate of fire disasters that have occurred at various markets across the country in recent times is worrisome.
He said that a conservative estimate shows shown that in 2024, traders, market users and other stakeholders, lost over N400 bllion to various fire incidences.
The ASMATA President blamed the ugly trend majorly on the poor modeling and construction of most of the markets.
He lamented that most of the markets across, the country were constructed, without adequate attention to fire and other safety measures, including enough ventilation in the stalls.
Udeigbo noted that it will make more security sense if concrete method is adopted in the modeling and construction of modern markets.
“The major problem facing most Nigerian markets today, is the issue of haphazard and poor construction.
“It is a far better idea to use concrete roofing ,in market construction,than the resort to roofing sheets
“This is because, in the event of emergency situation like a fire incident,it difficult for the inferno to engulf significant portions of a market with concrete roofing.
“But in the case of zinc/aluminum sheets ,once a stall/shop and or building is affected ,within minutes a substantial part of the market is engulfed.
“Don’t forget, the traders, small and petty traders, constitute a reasonable percentage of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises SME in the country.
“The incessant incidences of fire outbreaks at various markets across the country, and their attendant losses, have negatively affected economic growth and development of the country.
“From conservative estimate, traders, market users, and other stakeholders, were believed to have lost over N400 billion, to several fire outbreaks. This is not good for a struggling economy like ours, at this moment of economic hardship.
“I was the first person that, embarked on concrete buildings at the markets in 1993 in Aba. The structures are still having their integrity almost intact, after several years.
“The best way to curtail all these, fire outbreaks at our market is to adopt the non-kinetic approach like the use of concrete roofing, in market modeling and construction,” Udeigbo said.
He added that government at all levels, and relevant stakeholders should not just insist on the availability of fire fighting equipment at the markets, but also ensure that they are fully functional ,and capable of responding to emergencies .
“In addition to the fire fighting equipment, there should be accessibility to allow for easy deployment of rescue measures in times of emergencies.
“The Situation at most of the markets, at the moment, does not allow easy intervention ,and other rescue measures. That is the main reason why with a every fire incident you will be recording serious losses.
“Several millions of traders ,and other business owners, have had to close shop, owing to the effects of markets infernos.
“When you juxtapose the huge monetary losses with the disturbing number of people ,who have been driven out of businesses by fire outbreaks, you will agree with me that the trend if not urgently checked will further ruin the nation’s economy.”
Udeigbo sued for vigilance and safety consciousness on the part of traders across the country and commiseraed with all the victims of the Nnewi Plaza fire outbreak, other incidences across Nigeria.
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