The President of the Ndigbo Amaka Traders Association, Chinedu Ukatu, has urged the Lagos State Government to prioritise fire prevention in markets through improved electrical installations, better firefighting facilities and compulsory insurance.
Ukatu made the call in Lagos on Monday at the presentation of “Burning Point: Inside Lagos Fire,” a documentary produced by CBI News. He said recurring market fires and the challenges traders face in recovering from the losses required a shift from post-incident visits to sustained preventive measures.
“The government has been good at visiting the markets. That is the truth. But not good at preventing the next fire,” he said.
Ukatu urged the government to invest more in measures that could prevent outbreaks and protect traders’ livelihoods, rather than focusing primarily on visits after incidents.
“We need to move from condolence to prevention investment. Enough of condolence. When we invest in prevention, it is going to help all of us,” he added.
While acknowledging the emergency response efforts of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the market leader questioned whether an earlier pledge to deploy firefighting trucks to markets had been fulfilled.
He also called for a partnership involving the state government, the Ministry of Power and traders’ associations to replace ageing and deteriorating electrical wiring in major markets.
According to him, traders would find it difficult to finance large-scale electrical rehabilitation independently, although they could help identify markets and locations requiring urgent intervention.
“Look at the dilapidated wiring system in the markets. If you say the traders should do it alone, it is going to be difficult,” Ukatu said.
He added, “Can the Lagos State Government partner with the Ministry of Power and see how we can get this thing done? Help us rewire and ensure proper electrification for the good of all of us. That is part of the prevention investment.”
Ukatu also appealed for financial support for traders rebuilding and modernising their shops, citing reconstruction efforts at Alaba and other markets. He said government assistance could help expand such initiatives and improve market infrastructure.
The association president further advocated compulsory insurance for markets but did not provide details of the proposed arrangement in the available recording.
He also alleged that some traders were required to pay money before being allowed to enter their shops to retrieve goods after fire incidents, describing such demands as an additional hardship for traders already dealing with losses.
In a keynote address, the Director-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, outlined government interventions aimed at strengthening fire prevention and emergency response across the state.
She said the initiatives included expanding fire station coverage, establishing zonal headquarters, acquiring operational equipment, training personnel and developing infrastructure to improve emergency preparedness.
Adeseye noted that Lagos’s growing commercial, industrial, transportation and residential activities had increased public safety demands, making sustained investment in fire and rescue services necessary.
According to her, the state government procured 62 vehicles across several operational categories, including fire engines, water tankers, rapid intervention vehicles, maintenance vehicles and hydraulic ladder platforms.
She explained that the vehicles support firefighting, water supply, personnel deployment, equipment maintenance and specialised access during emergencies.
However, she stressed that equipment acquisition must be supported by regular maintenance, appropriate deployment, personnel training and effective coordination to deliver results.
“The fundamental mandate of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service is to save lives and protect property,” she said.
Adeseye identified firefighting, prevention, rescue operations and human resource development as the Service’s core responsibilities, emphasising that prevention was crucial to reducing casualties and economic losses.
She also disclosed that the government recruited an additional 685 personnel between 2019 and 2023 and supported local and international training to strengthen their technical skills and professional competence.
Earlier, the Founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Baywood Group, Emperor Chris Ibe, called for more solution-driven journalism, public accountability and constructive engagement.
Ibe said the media should go beyond reporting incidents to investigate the causes of societal problems and encourage practical responses.
He argued that the media’s value should be measured not only by its journalistic output, technological innovation or commercial performance, but also by its contribution to public enlightenment, accountability, informed debate and national development.
He said the documentary offered an opportunity to examine the human and economic costs of fire incidents while encouraging public discussion about prevention, emergency preparedness and institutional accountability.
