The Lagos State Government, through the Safety Commission and Fire and Rescue Service, has launched a fire prevention awareness campaign targeting marketplaces across the state.
The initiative aims to mitigate fire incidents during the harmattan season and as residents gear up for year-end celebrations.
Speaking at the campaign’s launch at Jankara Market, Lagos Island, the Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, emphasised the importance of safety consciousness among traders.
He urged them to remain vigilant about their environment to avert fire disasters.
“Today’s enlightenment campaign is about fire safety, and you are all aware that the harmattan season has come, bringing extra risks when it comes to fire. It is very dry, and there is a higher chance that we would have fire,” Mojola stated.
He added, “So the message is that they should be careful when carrying out their activities. Carelessness is a big issue because carelessness and human errors are the main causes of fire incidents.”
Mojola noted that while many markets in the state are adhering to government safety directives, continued awareness is crucial to minimise fire outbreaks.
He stressed the need to eliminate risky activities in markets, such as smoking, using cooking stoves, and selling petrol.
“We identified that there are people still selling petroleum products in the markets, and we are using this public enlightenment to work with market leaders to remove these inflammable items,” Mojola said.
“Beyond that, we are also training fire safety marshals on how to extinguish fires, use fire extinguishers, and install fire detectors in their shops to address incidents before they escalate,” he added.
The Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, highlighted the campaign’s focus on educating traders about fire safety.
She revealed that carelessness accounted for 75% of past fire incidents in marketplaces, prompting the government to intensify its sensitisation efforts.
“What happened in April this year, where over 20 houses were burnt, was a result of carelessness. From April till now, fire incidents in markets are at 0.1% compared to previous years. There is a level of compliance, but the government wants 100% compliance. We want a safe Lagos and a state free of fire incidents,” Adeseye said.
She further outlined preventive measures, urging traders to avoid sleeping in markets, refrain from using camp gas for cooking, and discourage overloading electrical sockets. Adeseye also encouraged markets to incorporate fire safety discussions into their meetings.
The Chairman of the Wrist Watch Sellers Association at Jankara Market, Mr. Abdul Rahman Yusuf, commended the state government for its consistent advocacy efforts. He pledged traders’ support for policies aimed at preventing market fires and assured compliance with safety measures.
The advocacy campaign will extend to other major markets, including Balogun, Dosunmu, Ereko, Saabo, Mile 12, Ojuwoye, Tejuosho, Boundary, Alaba International, Iyana Iba, and Okokomaiko.
