Fashola pledges to assist Balogun traders

Babatunde Fashola, the governor of Lagos state, has promised to assist the traders who lost their shops and wares during the inferno at Balogun market on Monday.

Fashola made the pledge on Tuesday when he visited the market to sympathise with the traders and ascertain the extent of damage.

About 150 shops and goods worth millions of naira were destroyed when a multi-storey plaza at the market got razed.

The governor said he has directed officials of the market to verify losses, adding that relief would be provided to victims as soon as enumeration of traders was completed.

He described the incident as pathetic and promised that the government would replace buildings and structures lost to the inferno.

“I sympathise with you on this incident, especially you women trying to earn a living and keep body and soul together. This is indeed a very pathetic incident,” he said.

“Be assured that our government will stand with you at this difficult period and we will help you get back on your business; that is the reason I have come with the Commissioner for Special Duties.

“I am working with the Iya Oloja and other market women to authenticate and verify all legitimate losses to the incident and this will apply to all affected in all the plazas.

“Once everyone has been identified, we will do our best to put you back to business and that will include replacing as many destroyed properties and buildings as possible.”

The governor, however, said the incident was a compelling reminder of the need for the traders to insure their businesses against losses.

He explained that insurance, apart from providing compensation for losses, would also help to reduce risks associated with business, urging traders and all residents to always take precautions against fire outbreak.

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to all Lagosians that this is the dry season. We have two seasons in our state, the rainy season and the dry season.

“The rainy season, where we have the risk of flooding, we have successfully contained that. We are now in the dry season, where we have the risk of fire.

“We must be interested in our own safety and security. I appeal to you to stop storing inflammable materials in your homes and business places.

“Residents should cultivate the habit of turning off their electrical appliances not in use. It is the harmattan period and the harmattan wind makes fires easy to start and difficult to contain.

“As at yesterday, we were dealing with 18 fire incidents. That should tell anyone that a lot more precautions are needed this season.”

Briefing the governor on the incident, Rasaq Fadipe, the director of the state’s fire service, said though the cause of the fire had not been ascertained,  an electrical fault around the market was being suspected.

Fadipe said it was a great challenge putting the fire under control, as there were too many illegal structures around the market which limited access of equipment and men to the scene.