The Abuja Markets Management, owners and managers of Garki Model Market, has commiserated with traders affected by the January 31 fire incident in the market.
The Corporate Affairs Manager of the markets, Innocent Amaechina, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja that the incident was sad and pitiful.
He said contrary to speculations that 11 shops were burnt in the fire, only five were confirmed to have been burnt, whose cause was yet to be ascertained.
The inferno occurred at about 10 p.m. on Wednesday.
Amaechina said: “AMM is assuring that it will continue to partner with the traders and other emergency management and key stakeholders to ensure that such ugly incident does not repeat in the market.’’
He disclosed that but for the alertness of security guards on duty at the market and quick intervention of the Fire Service; the damage would have been more.
Amaechina said that the five burnt stalls belonged to frozen food sellers, adding that the report of the cause of the fire was being awaited from the fire service.
He said: “It is instructive to note that there have been two similar minor fire outbreaks in the market in the past, which emanated from the same frozen food section.
“This came as a result of the specialized nature of the business, especially with regards to electricity, wiring, space requirements and standards, all of which are currently below standard in the market.’’
The manager said that Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Malam Musa Bello, had approved the remodelling of the market, including development of standard cold room.
He said that the minister received the request by the traders for remodelling of the market, adding that “as we speak, that section has been completed and the operators are already checking in’’.
He assured that with remodelling, fire incidents arising from the use of ramshackle structures for such sensitive business as cold rooms would be a thing of the past.
On his part, Chairman of Informal Section of the Market, Ugwu Augustine, confirmed that the fire outbreak occurred at about 10 p.m.
He also confirmed that the police had visited the market after the incident and had obtained statements from traders, whose shops were affected by the fire.
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