By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

In order to prevent dry season fire outbreaks in Abuja markets, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, on Thursday commenced the 2024/2025 dry season market sensitisation in Abuja.The Coordinator of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) Felix Obuah, who represented the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike while flagging off the sensitisation in Wuse Market Abuja.

He said the flag shows the administration’s commitment to safeguard lives, properties, and livelihoods in Abuja Markets and in FCT generally. According to the AMMC boss, “It is with great honor and a profound sense of responsibility that I stand before you today, on behalf of the Honorable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to officially flag-off the 2024/2025 Dry Season Market Sensitization Campaign. This initiative is more than just an event-it is a testament to our collective commitment to safeguarding lives, properties, and livelihoods in Abuja Markets and in FCT generally.He emphasised the importance of Market Sensitization, which include, “Markets are vibrant hubs of economic activity, central to our communities’ development and well-being. However, they are also uniquely vulnerable to fire outbreaks, particularly during the dry season. This period brings heightened risks due to factors such as increased temperatures, the use of flammable materials, and electrical overloads.”The consequences of fire disasters in markets are far-reaching, Loss of livelihoods: Traders lose not only goods but also years of investment and hard work.”Economic impact: Fire outbreaks disrupt commerce, affecting the local economy and the larger FCT economy.”Emotional and physical toll: Victims and their families often suffer emotional trauma and, in some cases, physical injuries or fatalities”.He emphasised that the yearly sensitization campaign is vital in mitigating the risks. Through proactive awareness, empowering traders and stakeholders with the knowledge and tools to prevent fire disasters and respond effectively when emergencies occur.He therefore urged the traders to “adopt preventive measures: Ensure your shops are equipped with fire extinguishers, avoid overloading electrical connections, and maintain clear pathways for emergency exits.”Stay vigilant: Report any suspicious activities or fire hazards promptly. Participate actively: Take the information shared during this campaign seriously and implement the safety tips provided.”Remember, fire safety is not just the responsibility of the government or market management. It requires the active participation of every trader and stakeholder”.Earlier in his welcome address, the acting Managing Director of Abuja Market Management limited, AMML, Onya Ojoji, said the campaign is apt and imperative because of a couple of incidents that were recorded in 2024.He said, “It is also very important to us at AMML due to a couple of incidents that attempted to blight our close to clean sheet in two decades of Market management – talking about the fire incidents that ravaged a block of this market on April 25, 2024 and another one on a section of the informal sector block at Kaura Market on August 16, 2024. These happened despite the high premium we place on preventive approach to fire safety management which cascades down to regular routine Fire Audit, sensitization/drill, stakeholders’ engagement with FCT Fire Service as well as in infrastructure upgrade and interventions from AICL, among others”.He noted, “We are braced more than ever to constantly review our Fire Safety Management Structure, assess the functionality of firefighting equipment and infrastructure and evaluate and enforce the isolation of common areas from commercial activities.”We are also taking more seriously, enforcement on proper storage or outright removal of fire- inducing materials in the markets, evaluation of egress and evacuation procedures as well as periodic survey of shop operators’ and Security guards’ knowledge of fire safety matters within the Market while embracing latest approaches and technology in fire prevention and control.”Today’s exercise is therefore part of measures at achieving the above objectives and on this note, I welcome you all once again and solicit your full participation so that together we can win this war against Fire disasters in FCT Markets”, he said.Among those who were present at the occasion included traders, Abuja Market Management Ltd (AMML), Directors (AMMC), officials of the FCT Fire Service, and representatives of other markets across the Federal Capital Territory.