By Daniel Tyokua
The minister of state for FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu has called on stakeholders of Kugbo furniture market to reorganize the market to avert frequent fire outbreaks.
She said all those involved in the management of the market should evolve measures that will end incessant fire inferno at Kugbo market in Abuja Municipal Area Council, (AMAC).
The minister stated this when she visited victims of another fire outbreak yesterday.
She commended critical stakeholders for the prompt response, stressing that the spirit of sportsmanship exhibited shows that much would be achieved by doing things together.
While pledging that the FCT Administration would see how best to assist the victims, she however, tasked traders to take precautionary measures as most of the goods sold in the market.
She also commended the traders for assisting the victims to salvage some of the damaged goods, noting that in most cases of inferno unscrupulous elements seized the opportunity to cart away other people’s belongings.
According to her, “Well, this is sad especially in this very difficult period that we are all grappling with the economic situation and how to survive with our little businesses. Nevertheles, I most also quickly sympathize with victims of this inferno that led to lost of property.
“We must also thank God that there was no lost of life, but at the same time we must say a big thank you in appreciation to our first respondents that came to curtain this ugly incident such as FCT Fire Service, FEMA, NEMA, and other stakeholders especially those who quickly come to our aid, like the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force.
“These critical stakeholders and hands of fellowship extended to FCT Administration shows that togetherness we can conquer. We must say a very big thank you to all of you because the disaster could have been worst than this if not for your prompt intervention.
“And for all those who lost their property is not because they have offended God in one way or the other. We should take it in good fate and God’s willing, FCT will do everything at its best to ensure that we put to an end to these ugly occurrences.
“We will look forward towards the reorganization of the market. Thank God there is a skeletal space for the fire trucks to move in, and we need to improve on it in terms of creating more spaces to make it more motorable. FCT Emergency Management Agency will come and take stock of the extent of damaged goods, even though we have some figures here”.
Conducting the minister round the scene, the Acting Director FCT Fire Service, Malam Sani Sa’idu, told the minister that the fire outbreak could be linked to electrical upsurge, adding that over 80 timber shades and 300 furniture shops were affected by the inferno.
Sa’idu also maintained that as soon as the service received the information from Kugbo residents, the service deployed personnel from Nyanya and Karu and then activated the Federal Fire Service, before the intervention of fire fighters from the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Army, Air Force and the Navy.
