Market fires became so popular in Nigeria at some point that speculators suggested it was a deliberate act by a group working for the government to decongest some areas.
However, market fires have been found to be due to illegal electrical connections, carelessness with generators containing petrol, and sometimes the inability to tackle fire outbreaks early.
Traders suffered heavy losses in most of such incidents, leading to depression and in some cases, death due to grieving.
Market fires in Nigeria
Over 50 fire breakouts were reported in different markets across Nigeria between November 2020 and August 2021. Traders from Lagos to Ibadan, Abuja to Sokoto, and Edo watched helplessly as the fire destroyed their years of labour in hours.
Studying media reports revealed that starting in November 2020, the southwest of the nation saw most fire events. According to research, there were 20 market fires in Oyo, 15 in Lagos, and 3 in Abuja. Oyo had the most market fires overall.
No fewer than 50 fire outbreaks were reported in various marketplaces throughout the period under investigation, destroying more than 10,000 stores.
Below is a list of some market fires in Nigeria
- Bodija market, Oyo State, 2021.
- Katsina- Ala market, Benue , 2022.
- Atakumosa market, Osun State, 2022.
- Alade market Shomolu, Lagos State, 2021.
- Agbaji market, Lagos State, 2021.
- Balogun market, Lagos State, 2021.
- Kara market Sokoto, 2021
- Karmo market, Abuja, 2022.
- Timber Market, Umuahia, Abia State, 2021.
- Nyanya market, Abuja, 2021.
- Garage market, Abuja, 2021
- Kugbo market, Abuja, 2021.
- Ochanja market, Onitsha, Anambra State, 2019.
- Kofar Ruwar market, Kano State, 2019.
- Yan’ Karakoram market, Kano State, 2019.
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Causes of market fires
One couldn’t help but question what causes fire incidents in markets based on the stories of such incidents. There were once rumours that miscreants, particularly those who hide in corners to use marijuana, were to blame for market fire outbreaks.
Later, it was claimed that they were intentional actions committed by opposing unions who sought to relocate contentious market squares from their current sites (that was the claim when the popular Orange Market in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, was completely razed down in 2016). These allegations may be accurate, but it’s crucial to highlight some additional, avoidable causes for why fires start and spread more quickly in Nigerian open markets.
They are:
Type of buildings
Most of the destroyed stores were shanties constructed of wood and metal sheets. This does not imply that shops made of concrete are unaffected by major fires, but the number of casualties in shops made of concrete is lower than in shanties. Some market administrators have already begun taking action by erecting concrete shops all across their markets. In all honesty, this has also decreased the frequency of fire outbreaks in many markets today.
Poor electrical wirings
In some markets, you can’t help but think if the electricians who made the electrical connections were engaged in a tug of war. They cross wires in a variety of patterns and leave some dangling precariously. Some electrical connections aren’t particularly impressive, even inside the stores. To resolve this issue, the market authorities must prohibit vendors from tampering with the electrical connections in their stores and on the electric poles.
Use of generators in the market
Using generators inside the market contributes to noise and air pollution and increases the risk of a fire starting or spreading. When one considers that generators use fuel (petrol), which quickly ignites when it comes in contact with heat, one can see how this could result in a fire breakout. By creating power plants that service the entire market or a portion of it and requiring those who want a regular power supply to connect to the general power plants, some market authorities have been able to deter people from utilising private generators. Typically positioned outside the market, common power generators rarely endanger vendors and customers.
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Filling stations or gas stations close to markets
Naturally, business owners have chosen to move filling stations closer to markets due to the great number of generators present there. This cannot even be compared to businesses that offer kegs of gasoline inside markets; these businesses cater to customers who cannot leave their stores and walk to the filling stations. Nigerians typically contribute to their troubles the majority of the time. The sale of fuel or gas inside markets can be described as one of the major causes of fire outbreaks inside markets.
How to prevent market fires
Market fires can be prevented if traders, market officials, and government can implement some measures. Some of the ways to prevent market fires are:
Invest in fire infrastructure
Every market’s leadership should ensure that it is connected to a fire service unit. They can impose taxes (which they already do), purchase fire trucks, and place hydrants in key areas of the marketplace.
If the market has its infrastructure for combating fires, they won’t have to wait for a fire to break out before using that equipment. Also, it helps to save time should there be a fire incident. The time wasted waiting for the fire department to arrive could have been used to try and quench the fire.
Ensuring every stall has a fire extinguisher and training the traders on how to use them
No one should be permitted to operate a stall at a market without a fire extinguisher and other essential safety supplies. Being a market organisation, you can have suppliers supply you with this equipment in bulk, making it less expensive. Mr. A receives a new fire extinguisher and fire bucket for his business as soon as he pays his market dues for the year. He doesn’t conduct business if he doesn’t pay.
Avoiding illegal connections
Traders must learn to avoid illegal connections to the power supply. Most market fires are caused by electrical sparks that could have been easily avoided if the trader had just done the right thing by legally connecting to the power supply.
Banning of individual generators
Small generators frequently start fires. Building a central power plant and allowing people to purchase pre-paid units to power their businesses is the answer to that problem. If you don’t need power, don’t buy. No generators, though. This not only offers constant electricity to the market, but it is also less expensive. Additionally, it will result in more organised electricity connections. The random cables that span the entire market are a fire hazard and must be removed.
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