The recent fire outbreak, described by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) as the worst in Nigeria, at the Sabon Gari Market in Kano which destroyed goods estimated at N2 trillion and burnt over 3,800 shops, is one market fire too many and, indeed, a sad commentary on the nation’s market administration and disaster prevention mechanism. Chairman of Sabon Gari Market Traders’ Association, Alhaji Nafi’u Nuhu Indabo, said over 75 per cent of the market was burnt down. He lamented that the fire started in the night when there was nobody in the market to take preventive measures against its spread.
During a visit to the market, NEMA Director General, Alhaji Sani Sidi, confirmed that 3,800 shops were burnt down by the fire, adding that 15 people were hospitalised for inhaling too much smoke and minor injuries.
Sidi said, “This is the biggest market fire outbreak Nigeria has ever witnessed. This is a serious calamity.” He said an assessment of the situation was ongoing which would determine the level of help to be rendered to the victims.
Following the fire disaster, the Kano state government has rolled out plans to restructure the markets in the state to facilitate improved business transactions. Governor Abdullahi Ganduje disclosed this while receiving the governors of Gombe, Kebbi, Niger, Imo, Borno and Jigawa, who paid him a sympathy visit over the fire outbreak at the Sabongari market.
He said the restructuring would involve provision of roads, culverts and fire service points as well as collapsible structures for petty traders.
He said henceforth all present wooden structures in such markets would be replaced with collapsible ones to reduce the chances of conflagration and obstacles during emergency. Ganduje said the government would also implement some measures to alleviate the sufferings of the victims of the fire to enable them rebuild their lives.
In line with his promise, Governor Ganduje inaugurated a 41-man committee, headed by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, to raise funds for the victims of market fire outbreaks in Kano. Ganduje urged the committee to identify and reach out to state and federal governments, individuals and international organisations for donations.
He also urged them to organise and facilitate launching of appeal funds.
Dangote assured that the members would carry out the assignment with utmost diligence. He thanked the government for the opportunity to serve and promised that the committee, which has six weeks to submit its report, would ensure that it delivered on its mandate. Other members of the committee are Alhaji Dahiru Mangal and Tajudeen Dantata among others. Alhaji Ibrahim Kankarofi will serve as Secretary of the committee
It is instructive that the Sabon Gari Market, as well as the adjacent Singer Market, and Kantin-Kwari Market less than a kilometre away, are commercial hub in the North as well as Niger Republic, CAR, northern Cameroon and beyond.
While Singer Market is the main wholesale outlet for Sabon Gari Market, Kantin Kwari is perhaps the largest textiles market in West Africa, and both had experienced serious fire outbreaks within hours of each other, last February. The Mobile Phones Market in the city, popularly known as the “GSM Village” had experienced twin bomb explosions on November 18, last year.
President of the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), Kenneth Ukaoha, offered a national perspective to market fires. He said 600 persons were killed, 49 markets burnt and 10,000 shops were destroyed between December 1, 2010 when Minna shopping complex in Niger State burnt and March 26, 2016 when the Birnin Kebbi Central Market was razed. Ukaoha added that there were 16 major fire incidents in 2016 alone. He said, “Apart from loss of lives, goods and properties worth N3 trillion were lost.
None of the affected markets has insurance coverage. Eighty-five percent of the fire incidents was said to have been caused by electricity.”
While Blueprint commends the pro-active measures by Governor Ganduje to stem the tides of market fires and provide succour to victims of market fires in Kano state, we urge governments at all levels to act swiftly in modernising the markets in their domain as well as making them safe and secure for business transactions. The nation, certainly, cannot afford another monumental disaster like the recent fire outbreak at the Sabon Gari Market in Kano.
