Traders at the Kugbo Furniture Market in Abuja count heavy losses after a Friday fire swept through part of the market, destroying 21 shops and a vehicle.
The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, said its Abuja Operations Office received a distress call about the fire at about 11:15 a.m. and immediately mobilized the Federal Fire Service and other emergency respondent.
NEMA respondent helped control the crowd and supported firefighters as they battled the blaze and stopped it from spreading to other sections of the market.
The emergency teams contained the fire and dampened the affected area to prevent secondary outbreaks. They also recovered some valuable items from the affected shops.
NEMA said emergency operations ended at about 1:40 p.m. and confirmed that the incident caused no casualties.
The fire swept through a section of the market where traders sell and process furniture, wood, foam, boards and other furniture accessories.
An eyewitness, Mrs Mary Aniekan, said traders noticed an electrical spark shortly after electricity returned to the area.
She said traders and other people at the market immediately raised the alarm and tried to contain the fire while others rushed to save their belongings.
“I was in my shop when we saw the fire and people running to safety, while others were trying to put the fire out but they could not. The fire started when AEDC restored electricity.
“Firefighters came but their water finished and up till now they have not been able to put the fire out,” she said.
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Aniekan said the flames spread rapidly through the affected section, destroying shops, furniture, equipment and other valuable goods.
Traders rushed to remove whatever they could from their shops as the fire spread, while others watched their businesses and properties go up in flames.
The Chairman of the Kugbo Wood Machinist Association, Mr Godswill Ndukwe, said the fire started before most traders arrived to open their shops.
Ndukwe said the affected section contained foam, wood, local and imported boards as well as furniture accessories.
He called on the Abuja Municipal Area Council, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, to take urgent measures to prevent further fire outbreaks at the market.
Ndukwe also said the market had experienced previous fire incidents and urged the authorities to address the factors contributing to the recurring outbreaks.
Some traders appealed for urgent assistance to help them assess their losses and rebuild their businesses.
While some reports estimated the value of destroyed goods at more than N500 million, emergency authorities have not independently confirmed the figure.
Emergency authorities have also not confirmed the cause of the fire. Aniekan, however, linked the outbreak to an electrical spark after electricity returned to the market.
Punch News
