By Daniel Tyokua
A fire outbreak at Kugbo furniture market in Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has destroyed goods worth millions of naira, on Sunday.
The fire occurred at a section of the market mostly occupied by factory owners that produce different kinds of furniture, burning several shops.
The AUTHORITY reports that the fire incident which is a yearly thing in the market, started at 8am, but firefighters were able to contain the situation, preventing it from spreading to other sections of the market.
Emmanuel Agbo, a furniture maker in the market, commended the firefighters, but blamed wrong packing of vehicles for affecting delay in quick access to the affected areas.
“Traders need to be more educated on fire management especially by ensuring that they have fire extinguisher in their shops.
“Again, packing of vehicles on the road also affected the firefighters from gaining easy access to scene” Agbo said.
Another trader in the market, Mr. Godswill Osim commended the firefighters for prompt response and begged for more fire trucks in the market.
Osim who is a former chairman of Kugbo Wood Machinists Association, appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), to evolve measures that will help curb fire in the market.
He said, “The major challenge is congestion in the market, FCT Administration should help in addressing the challenge” Osim said.
When contacted for response, the Public Relations Officer, Federal Capital Territory Fire Service, Mr. Ibrahim Mohammad, said the command was yet to receive details of the incident.
He said,” I am yet to know about the fire incident, but I will follow up to get the details in two hours time” Mohammad said.
