By Damilare Adeleye
It is a devastating December for many households in Nigeria as no fewer than eleven (11) persons have tragically lost their lives in multiple fire incidents that ravaged many parts of the country in the last few days, the Sparklight News can report.
It was gathered that properties and goods worth millions of naira were also destroyed in the raging infernos across the country. Traders, particularly, are major victims of business losses since the blaze has been on the wild rage.
Available public records indicated that at least, nineteen (19) fire incidents have occurred in eight states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja within December. The affected states include Akwa Ibom, Kano Lagos, Oyo, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, and Yobe.
Apart from surge in electricity supply, the dry season weather condition, human negligence including bush and refuse burning, have been pinpointed to be responsible for the ugly calamities.
The Timelines of Fire Outbreak
On December 2, fire razed Abuja’s popular estate, Trademore, which is situated at off Umar Musa YarAdua/Airport Road. On same day, 17 shops at the Moniya market in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State were destroyed following a fire outbreak. Reports indicated that goods worth millions of naira and cash were ruined in the incident. Also, the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Owa-Oyibu, Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, went on flame on December 2. A statement by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, confirmed that the fire was triggered by a power surge following the restoration of public electricity. Election materials including 706 ballot boxes, 50 election bags, 322 apron vests, three electric generators, 140 stamps, 50 ballot box seals, envelopes, posters, forms, and booklets were all lost in the blaze.
On December 3, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Area Command, mourned the passing of one of its officers, SC Kabiru Tijani, his wife, and their four children. According to an official statement, the deceased met their death after a fire engulfed their residence in Ede, Osun State on December 2.
On December 5, fire gutted a section of a students’ hostel at the University of Ibadan, Queen Elizabeth Hall. The office of the Warden and the office of the Secretary of the Warden were affected by the inferno. A similar incident was also reported at a warehouse of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) in Idu, Abuja. The Director of Information and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Rhoda Ishaku, confirmed that the fire incident destroyed tools worth billions of naira.
While the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, set up a five-man committee to ascertain the immediate and remote cause of the fire incident, he disclosed that the fire damaged tools were meant for N-Power youth training under the ministry.
On December 6, traders were left devastated after a fire outbreak ravaged Lafia Modern Market in Nasarawa State, destroying many goods. On December 9, barely five days after fire disaster destroyed many shops at a market in Damaturu the Yobe state capital, another fire incident was reported in Gashua town, headquarters of Bade local government area of the state. Forty (40) shops with goods were reportedly affected at the bustling and hustling market.
On December 11, a fire outbreak destroyed shops at Alaba Rago market in Ojo Area of Lagos State, just as another blaze was reported at the Old Airport Junction in Jos, Plateau State capital, destroying several shops and offices, leaving traders and business owners counting their losses.
On December 13, a 67-year-old man, Muhammad Uba, and his 52-year-old wife, Fatima Muhammad, died after fire engulfed their home in the Rangaza community, Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State.
Similarly, on December 14, several worshippers were also trapped during a vigil when fire engulfed the Christ Apostolic Church in Wisdom Estate, Ibadan, Oyo State. It was gathered that some worshippers had fallen asleep in preparation for the vigil when the blaze erupted. No casualty was confirmed in the incident.
On December 15, another fire broke out at Olohunda Road, Lagelu Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State capital, destroying three shops. It was learnt that the swift response of the state fire service, however, saved 13 other shops from being consumed. A source at the scene of the incident said the fire was caused by burning refuse left unattended by occupants of the premises.
On December 16, fire also gutted popular Tunga Market in Minna, Niger State, and destroyed several shops and properties worth millions of naira. The fire, which ravaged a furniture store, a gas cylinder shop, and parts of a nearby motel, was worsened when some youths in the area, frustrated by the delayed arrival of the fire service, became hostile towards emergency responders. Another fire outbreak also consumed six apartments formerly used by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on December 16. The INEC quarters was situated around the Phase 4 in Kubwa, Abuja. One of the victims, Hajara Maryam, who was to wed out her daughter the following Friday, told newsmen that all their belongings, with exception of cushions chairs, were consumed in the flames.
On December 20, fire claimed the lives of a husband, his wife, and their grandson after inferno hit a storey building situated in Ori-Eru, Idikan area of Ibadan, Oyo State. Luckily, five persons were rescued by alive from the building by fire fighters.
On December 21, another conflagration erupted in popular Araromi Spare Parts Market, Agodi-Gate in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, destroying goods and property worth millions of naira. On the same day, a fire also broke out in Akwa Ibom, gutting a petrol station located in Itam, Itu Local Government Area of the state. It was reported that a truckload of petrol was consumed by the flames.
I Lost N22m, N20m in the Incident— Traders Recount Calamity
Owners of shops in Ibadan spare parts market, which was recently engulfed, lamented their woes as the result of the devastated situation.
One of the shop owners identified Karimu, while speaking to newsmen on Saturday, said he lost a staggering N25 million to the fire.He was quoted as saying, “I stayed around Amuloko in Ona Ara Local Government Area. I received a distress call from one of my friends that ‘Iso Paati’ was on fire around 2:45 am. I hurriedly left my house with the assistance of one of the landlords in my area, who owns a motorcycle.
“When I arrived at the market, the fire was burning seriously. Nobody could enter the shop again.
“What actually pained me most is that I just took delivery of auto spare parts at the port at Tin Can Island in Lagos. The goods were carefully arranged in the stall. I am even confused and I don’t know what happened. How we I pay back my loans?
“I have lost everything to the incident. My appeal is for the government to come to our aid.”
Another trader, Mr. Toye Akande, also recounted his loss of N20 million naira. He said, “This is the third time that fire would burn my wares in this market. But this latest one is a great blow to me. Many of us (spare parts dealers) survive on loans. How do I move forward and repay my loans? Honestly, I don’t understand. “Both old and new stock in my shop was about N20million. I stocked my shop with my personal money and loans. Whether I like it or not, there is no excuse; I must repay the loan. How can this fire incident happen now about four days to Christmas?”
The Babaloja of Moniya Garage in Ibadan, Kolawole Balogun, also expressed deep concern over the extent of the losses when fire gutted the market earlier in the month.
“I rushed to the market as soon as I got the call. We lost multimillion-naira goods. The prompt arrival of the fire service prevented even greater devastation.“In addition to the goods, cash in millions of naira was also destroyed.
Many traders often store their money in their shops when they leave for the night,” Balogun said.
Understandably, the operatives Federal Fire Service have been actively involved in rescue operations during these incidents even in the face of harassment. It was reported that in Niger State, firefighters were pelted with stones by angry youths over ‘delayed arrival’ at incident scene. It was said that the hostility forced the firefighters to return to their base, leaving the residents to face the fire with limited resources. The General Manager of Oyo State Fire Services, Akinyemi Akinyinka, expressed concern over the situation, particularly about looters that interrupted firefighting efforts.“Our men were met with harassment as hoodlums invaded shops at the Araromi Agodi-Gate,” he stated when speaking on the fire incident at Ibadan spare parts market.
Efforts to speak with the National headquarters of the Federal Fire Service on precautionary measures on the situation were futile as email sent to its official email address on Thursday was yet to be acknowledged and responded to as at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, netizens reacted to the incessant inferno in the country.
Gideon Akachukwu, while reacting via his Facebook account, urged citizens to be careful in handling fire, flammable materials and electricity.
He said, ‘‘Harmattan is here at its peak now. Please, the general public should be all notified to be more careful especially in handling fire or any flammable materials. If you want to set anything on fire ensure you put out the fire very well whether at home or especially in the market place to avoid the news of fire incidents. If you use electricity in your shop ensure that you off it before leaving the shop. Finally keep out of reach of children any form of fire generating devices such as lighters and matches.”
Amos Livingston Okorie also added, “Spare parts market are always susceptible to fire outbreaks mostly during this season, a good fire hazard precautions need to be take during dry season to curtail every unforseen contingency, spare parts market a full of flammable liquids.”
Stop Bush Burning In Harmattan—NEMA Warns As parts of preventive measures, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has cautioned the public to refrain from bush burning during the harmattan season.
Ojuedene Kenoma, NEMA’s Head of Operations in Edo State, issued the warning at a workshop aimed at training local government officials and volunteers in disaster prevention, response and control measures.
“Disasters such as tanker accidents, fire outbreaks, or other emergencies occur unexpectedly. It is essential to cultivate a culture of preparedness, awareness and effective response, particularly at the grassroots,” he added.
Lagos Bans Smoking In Markets
Similarly, daunted by the frequent fire outbreaks in the state, the Lagos State Government has called on market leaders to urgently enforce a ban on smoking in all market places, particularly around sawmills and plank markets in the state.
Chief Fire Officer, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Olukotun Odunayo, stated this during a stakeholders’ sensitization coordination and community response on disaster programme put together by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in Lagos.
“A big fire can start from ashes from a discarded cigarette or sparks from faulty electricity connection when there is a sudden surge in power supply. This often occurs at night. And when it happens victims result to prayers rather than action because they lack knowledge of what to do.
“I want to encourage market leaders to embark on an intensive sensitization campaign for traders in different markets. Traders should know what they need to do in case of emergency.
“Leaders should also ban smoking at market places, especially sawmills and plank markets,” he added.
As harmattan continues across the country, it is hoped that government officials, fire safety personnel, security agencies, civil organisations, and the public would work unanimously to stem the tide of the fire incidents in the country.
