Like most Nigerians, we are wont to ask what firefighting measures had been put in place in all these markets and other public places in the state. There is no contesting the fact that while prompt response from the fire service is important, such cannot take the place if preventive measures were ignored or deliberately violated.
Although the state fire service has, yet, to come out with a report on the probable and possible the causes of these infernos, it is heartening to note that the Governor, Umar Ganduje, has constituted a committee to unravel this mystery. Conscious of the need to provide succor to the victims, Garba listed the committee’s mandate to include assessing the damage and make recommendations on how the government can offer support and assistance to the affected traders.
In our considered opinion, now more than ever before, these recurring incidents of fire disaster underscore the need for stakeholders-the government, traders and officials of market associations- to devise means of ensuring enhanced disaster prevention and management strategies.