The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, has expressed worry over the frequent fire outbreaks in major markets across the territory, just as she sympathized with victims of the recent Gwarinpa Tipper garage market fire incident that claimed one life.
The minister who visited the scene alongside the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, the FCT Director of Fire Service, Malam Sani Sa’idu, among other top management staff, also called for an upgrade of the markets in line with global best practices.
She, however, assured that the FCT Administration in consultations with the Federal Housing Authority would ensure that victims are assisted, just as she tasked traders to take precautionary measures as most of the goods sold in the market are highly inflammable.
Aliyu also commended the traders for assisting the victims to salvage some of the damaged goods, noting that in most cases of fire outbreak unscrupulous elements seized the opportunity to cart away other people’s goods.
“The FCT Fire Service personnel rushed down immediately but unfortunately they cannot access the market due to poor planning. All the major roads leading to the market were blocked by shops or corner shops. This actually is a pathetic case, especially that we even lost life and so much property. Some families have been traumatized before they were rescued.
“We will sit together and see how we can bring support to those who were affected and much sympathy to the family of the bereaved. But besides that, this also takes us to the very essence of town planning.
“In a city like the Federal Capital Territory, the number one city in the nation should not even witness a place so overcrowded in such a manner that does not befit a modern city. We have to sit down and look at the real drawing of Abuja together and see how other markets will also be upgraded and existing markets would be looked into holistically to ensure that all these provisions are made,” she assured.
While conducting the Minister round the scene, the Acting Director FCT Fire Service, Malam Sani Sa’idu, told the minister that his men responded, but could not gain access to the market due to a bad road network.
Sa’idu also maintained that as soon as the service received the information from the distressed traders, personnel were deployed and then activated the Federal Fire Service for immediate assistance.