By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The President General of Abia State Amalgamated Traders Association ASMATA, Sir Alphonsus Udeigbo, has called on Governments, Market developers and other relevant stakeholders to consider the construction of concrete buildings to halt incessant incidences of infernos.
This is even as he advocated the compulsory establishment of functional fire-fighting stations in all Markets across the country for effective response to emergency situations.
Sir 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 unfortunate late night fire, left on its trail a monumental loss, with goods worth several billions of Naira lost.
In a statement issued on Thursday, January 16, Udeigbo described as worrisome, the spate of fire disasters that occurred at various markets across the country in recent times.
According to him, a conservative estimate has shown that in 2024, traders market users, and other stakeholders, lost over N400 billion to various fire incidents.
He 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.
Chief Udeigbo noted that it will make more security sense if concrete method is adopted in the modeling and construction of 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 is 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 incidents of fire outbreak 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, are 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”, the ASMATA President stated.
According to him, 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 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 market 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 noted.
While commiserating with all the victims of the Nnewi Plaza fire outbreak and other incidents across the country, the ASMATA President sued for vigilance and safety consciousness on the part of traders across the country.
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