President of Ndigboamaka Progressive Market Association challenges government to move beyond condolences, investigate suspicious fires and protect the livelihoods of thousands of traders.

LAGOS, NIGERIA — When fire destroys a market, the headlines may disappear within days, but for the traders who lose their shops, goods, savings and business capital,  and banks’ loans, the nightmare can last a lifetime.

For many affected traders, a single fire outbreak represents more than the destruction of merchandise. It can mean the collapse of years of sacrifice, the loss of their children’s school fees, unpaid debts, broken business partnerships and the sudden disappearance of the only source of livelihood supporting an entire family.

This painful reality was brought into sharp focus by Hon. Comrade Chinedu Ukatu, President of the Ndigboamaka Progressive Market Association, an umbrella body representing 58 markets across Lagos State, during the Burning Point Seminar hosted by CBI News.

Speaking against the backdrop of recurring market fire disasters, Ukatu delivered a forceful message: Lagos cannot continue to celebrate the economic contributions of traders while leaving them exposed to preventable disasters, devastating losses and inadequate post-fire support.

His intervention raises a fundamental question that demands urgent public attention: Why should traders who contribute to the wealth of Lagos repeatedly lose everything to market fires and then struggle to rebuild their lives without a reliable system of protection or compensation?

BEYOND THE FLAMES: THE HUMAN TRAGEDY BEHIND MARKET FIRES

Market fires are often reported as breaking news. Images of burning buildings, thick smoke, destroyed shops and exhausted firefighters dominate television screens and social media.

Yet the most devastating part of the story often begins after the flames are extinguished.

Behind every destroyed shop is a trader who may have borrowed money to purchase stock, invested years of savings, employed workers or struggled to build a business from nothing. When that investment goes up in flames, the consequences extend far beyond the market.

Families lose their means of survival. Employees lose their jobs. Creditors demand repayment. Customers lose trusted suppliers, while the wider economy suffers from disrupted commerce and reduced business activity.

For Ukatu, this is why market fire disasters must no longer be treated merely as unfortunate incidents requiring public sympathy.

They must be treated as an urgent economic, public-safety and accountability challenge.

A trader who loses everything in a fire does not need condolences alone. That trader needs protection before the disaster, justice where wrongdoing is established, and practical assistance to rebuild afterwards.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONDITIONS THAT MAKE MARKETS VULNERABLE?

One of the central concerns raised at the seminar was the condition of market infrastructure.

Many markets operate with electrical installations that require urgent assessment, outdated or overloaded wiring, inadequate fire-safety equipment and access routes that may make it difficult for emergency vehicles to reach burning buildings quickly.

Where markets have developed over decades without adequate modernisation, these weaknesses can turn a small electrical fault into a catastrophic emergency.

Ukatu’s position is that government and market authorities must stop treating infrastructure improvements as optional expenses. Systematic electrical rewiring, proper market planning, accessible emergency routes, fire alarms, extinguishers, water points and regular safety inspections must become priorities.

The critical issue is prevention.

How many businesses could be saved if dangerous wiring were identified before a fire broke out? How many lives and millions of naira in merchandise could be protected if fire trucks could reach affected shops without obstruction?

These are questions that demand practical answers, not another round of promises after the next disaster.

SUSPICIONS OF SABOTAGE MUST NOT BE IGNORED — BUT MUST BE INVESTIGATED

Another troubling issue raised in discussions surrounding market fires is the suspicion that some outbreaks may involve deliberate acts of arson, land-related disputes or other forms of sabotage, by non state actors.

Such concerns deserve serious, independent investigation.

Where traders report threats, suspicious activities or disputes involving market property, the appropriate authorities should examine the evidence, establish the facts and prosecute anyone found responsible in accordance with the law.

No individual, group or interest should be permitted to use fire or intimidation to destroy people’s businesses or gain an unlawful advantage over valuable market property.

However, allegations of deliberate fires must not be treated as proven facts without credible evidence. Every major market fire should be subjected to a transparent investigation capable of determining whether the cause was electrical failure, negligence, arson or another factor.

The public deserves answers. Traders deserve justice. Anyone responsible for criminal destruction must be held accountable.

A market fire should never become an excuse for burying the truth beneath the ashes.

THE SECOND TRAUMA: ALLEGED EXPLOITATION AFTER THE FIRE

For some affected traders, the suffering does not end when firefighters leave the scene.

Concerns have also been raised about alleged demands for payments by officials or non-state actors before traders are allowed to access affected areas or retrieve whatever goods remain salvageable.

Such allegations require proper investigation, but where unlawful demands, extortion or obstruction are established, the responsible authorities must act decisively.

Imagine losing millions of naira in merchandise to a fire, only to face additional demands before attempting to recover what little remains.

For a trader already devastated by losses, every unnecessary delay can mean further damage, lost opportunities and deeper financial hardship.

There must be clear procedures governing access to affected markets after a fire, including safety assessments, transparent authorisation and protection against exploitation.

Disaster victims must not be punished a second time for a tragedy they are already struggling to survive.

UKATU’S FIVE-POINT AGENDA FOR ENDING THE CYCLE

At the heart of Ukatu’s intervention is a call to replace reactive responses with a practical, coordinated and accountable system of market fire prevention and recovery.

1. REWIRE AND MODERNISE MARKETS BEFORE DISASTER STRIKES

The Lagos State Government, relevant agencies and market associations should work together to conduct comprehensive fire-risk assessments and systematically upgrade unsafe electrical installations.

Markets also need functional fire-safety equipment, accessible emergency routes, appropriate water supplies, clear evacuation plans and routine safety inspections.

Market leaders must be involved in designing these interventions because they understand the daily realities of the trading environment.

Prevention is not a waste of public money. It is an investment in lives, livelihoods and economic stability.

2. ESTABLISH A LAGOS STATE MARKET FIRE EMERGENCY FUND

Ukatu has proposed the establishment of a Lagos State Fire Emergency Fund to provide urgent financial assistance to traders whose businesses are destroyed by fire.

Under the proposal, emergency support should be designed to reach verified victims within 28 hours of a confirmed disaster, subject to a workable verification and disbursement process.

The objective is to prevent affected traders from remaining completely stranded while waiting weeks or months for assistance.

A well-governed fund, supported by clear eligibility rules, transparent accounts and independent oversight, could help victims secure temporary accommodation, meet urgent family needs and begin rebuilding their businesses.

The fund must not become another bureaucratic promise. It must have defined funding sources, accountable management and measurable response timelines.

3. MAKE FIRE INSURANCE ACCESSIBLE TO MARKET TRADERS

Fire insurance can provide a financial safety net when a business suffers a covered loss. However, many small traders may find conventional insurance difficult to afford or understand.

Ukatu’s proposal calls for compulsory fire insurance for market traders, but its implementation must be carefully designed to ensure that premiums are affordable and coverage is genuine.

Government, insurers and market associations should explore group insurance schemes, simplified policies, transparent claims procedures and support for vulnerable microbusinesses.

Any compulsory arrangement must also come with clear consumer protections, accessible complaints mechanisms and assurance that legitimate claims will be paid promptly.

Insurance must protect traders, not become another financial burden imposed on businesses already struggling to survive.

4. TRAIN TRADERS AS MARKET FIRST RESPONDERS

In many emergencies, the first few minutes are critical.

Ukatu advocates training and equipping designated traders and market safety teams to identify hazards, raise alarms, use fire extinguishers safely and support orderly evacuations before a small incident escalates.

Such training must be conducted by qualified fire-safety professionals and must never encourage untrained traders to enter burning buildings or confront dangerous fires.

Markets should also conduct regular emergency drills and maintain clearly marked evacuation routes.

The goal is to build a culture of preparedness in which every market has a coordinated response plan and knows how to summon professional firefighters quickly.

5. INVESTIGATE EVERY MAJOR FIRE AND ENFORCE ACCOUNTABILITY

A major market fire should trigger a credible investigation into its cause, the adequacy of safety measures, the response time of emergency services and any evidence of criminal conduct or negligence.

Where wrongdoing is established, those responsible must face the appropriate legal consequences.

Findings should be made public to the extent permitted by law, while recommendations for preventing future incidents should be implemented and monitored.

Without accountability, the same hazards may remain in place until another market burns.

IF GOVERNMENT CAN COMPENSATE OTHERS, WHY SHOULD TRADERS BE LEFT BEHIND?

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Ukatu’s position is his insistence that traders must be recognised as contributors to the economic development and wellbeing of Lagos State.

Markets are not merely collections of shops. They are vital economic centres that support employment, distribution, transportation, food supply, manufacturing, imports, exports and countless small businesses.

Traders pay applicable taxes and levies, create employment, support families and keep commercial activity moving. Their businesses contribute to the economic life of the state.

Yet when a market fire destroys their investments, many are left to depend on personal savings, family assistance, loans or the generosity of fellow traders.

Ukatu argues that verified traders who suffer devastating losses should have access to a fair compensation or recovery-support framework, particularly where government assistance is justified by the circumstances of the disaster.

Such a framework must establish transparent eligibility criteria, reliable loss assessments, clear funding arrangements and safeguards against fraudulent claims.

Where a fire results from proven negligence, unlawful conduct or failures for which an identifiable party bears legal responsibility, victims should have a clear pathway to seek appropriate remedies.

The question is not whether every loss must automatically be paid for by government. It is whether Lagos can develop a fair, transparent and sustainable system that prevents avoidable disasters and helps legitimate victims recover.

Traders should not be treated as economic heroes when their taxes and commercial activities are needed, then forgotten when disaster destroys their livelihoods.

“WE ARE THE ENGINE OF THE LAGOS ECONOMY”

Ukatu’s message is ultimately about dignity, partnership and economic justice.

“We are the engine of the Lagos economy,” he emphasised, underscoring the importance of recognising traders as productive stakeholders who deserve protection and meaningful participation in decisions affecting their businesses.

The call is not for traders to be treated as beggars seeking handouts. It is for a partnership in which government provides the necessary regulatory oversight, infrastructure and emergency systems, while market associations support compliance, safety education, insurance participation and responsible market administration.

Such collaboration could help modernise markets, reduce fire risks, strengthen public confidence and protect livelihoods.

It could also provide a model for other commercial centres across Nigeria, where similar challenges require coordinated and sustainable solutions.

THE QUESTIONS LAGOS MUST NOW ANSWER

The Burning Point Seminar has brought a critical issue into public discussion. The next step must be action.

Will Lagos State undertake comprehensive fire-risk assessments across its markets and publish a plan for correcting identified hazards?

Will relevant agencies establish a transparent process for investigating major market fires and communicating their findings?

Will the government and insurers work with market associations to create affordable fire-insurance arrangements?

Will a properly funded emergency relief mechanism provide timely assistance to verified victims?

Will authorities investigate allegations of extortion, obstruction and deliberate arson wherever credible evidence exists?

And will traders be given a meaningful seat at the table when policies affecting market safety, redevelopment, recovery and compensation are designed?

These questions deserve clear answers from the relevant authorities, not merely expressions of sympathy after another devastating incident.

THE FINAL WARNING: STOP COUNTING THE LOSSES AND START PREVENTING THEM

Every major market fire should remind the authorities that a thriving economy cannot be built on vulnerable businesses and unprotected livelihoods.

A fire may last for hours, but its consequences can follow a trader for decades. Children may leave school, workers may lose employment, families may fall into debt and once-thriving enterprises may never reopen.

The solution is not to wait for another inferno before mobilising emergency services, announcing relief or promising investigations.

The solution is to invest in prevention, enforce safety standards, investigate credible allegations, strengthen emergency response, expand access to insurance and create transparent pathways to recovery and compensation.

Hon. Comrade Chinedu Ukatu’s intervention at the CBI News Burning Point Seminar therefore raises an issue that extends beyond any single market or community: the urgent need to protect the people whose everyday enterprise sustains Lagos commerce.

The flames may eventually go out. But justice, accountability and the responsibility to rebuild must not disappear with the smoke.

The message to Lagos is clear: protect the markets, protect the traders, protect the economy.

Reported by Beadysword Blog | Business, Markets & Public Accountability