Balogun Fire Outbreak: Farouq Commiserates with Victims



Blessing Bature, Abuja


The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq has expressed concern over the repeated cases of fire outbreaks in markets around the country stating that the recent fire outbreaks are a source of great concern to government.

Umar said this when she commiserated with those who lost their properties and goods worth millions of Naira in the fires that gutted parts of Balogun and Dosunmu markets in Lagos on the 5th of November.

She said she felt saddened by the unfortunate incident describing it as a huge loss to Lagos State and the nation as a whole, adding that "in the recent past we as a nation have experienced incessant cases of fire outbreaks that have led to huge losses to traders, their families and the Nigerian economy as a whole."

Farouq added that the efforts of emergency responders like the Lagos State Fire Service and the State Emergency Management Agency, the State Police command, environmental health officers, youth and other kind hearted Nigerians contributed in stopping the fires in both markets adding that she found this heartwarming and encouraged those affected to remain strong and resolute in the face of the extreme loss.

She reiterated that the Federal Government through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development in collaboration with other relevant institutions is working on finding lasting solutions to fires and other disasters to ensure structures that will mitigate, prevent and ensure a high level of preparedness are put in place to engender quick and appropriate responses when fires break. This will bring to the barest minimum the impact of fire outbreaks.

She encouraged shop owners and landlords to ensure safety mechanisms are put in place in their business premises and buildings.