Yuletide: LASG flags off sensitisation programme across markets on fire outbreak prevention

In a bid to prevent fire outbreak during yuletide season, the Lagos state Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, in conjunction with the Lagos State Safety Commission, have commenced a 3-day sensitisation programme for traders across markets in the State.

Also involved in the sensitisation programme was Lagos state Fire and Rescue Services.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on Wednesday Balogun Market in Lagos Island, the Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola, tutored the traders on basic precautionary measures to be put in place so as to avert fire outbreak.

Mojola advised them to raise alarm whenever they suspect any fire incident, adding that they should make use of the Lagos state emergency toll free line 767 or 112 during emergency.

“There is need for all our market men and women to be fire safety conscious because fire is not a friend to anybody and that is why we need to sensitize our market men and women not to risk their lives and avoid anything that could cause fire outbreak in the state. This should rather tell all our market men and women that our governor loves all of us and hold us in high esteem and would not want any of our market men and women to die”, Mojola said.

He advised the general public to take precautionary measures to prevent fire outbreak during the forthcoming yuletide season.

In her remarks, the Director, Lagos Fire and Rescue Services, Mrs Adeseye Margaret, who was represented by Mrs Alelamole Abiola, advised the traders to always prevent fire outbreak in markets by not overloading electrical sockets.

She advised them not to hoard petrol in their markets, saying they should avoid anything that could cause electrical spark.

Margaret hinted that the state government would sensitise traders across 20 markets, saying fire safety is everyone’s responsibility.

The Fire officials also displayed practicals on fire prevention and elementary fire fighting.

The Director said that the tips were imperative to prevent fire disasters and to imbibe safety consciousness during the yuletide season in markets and other places of public interest.

She further said that indiscriminate bush and open burning of waste could also cause fire outbreak if care not taken.

Margaret said, “We are here to converse for the economic development of the State, we don’t want incessant fire outbreaks in our markets and we know that all these incessant fire outbreaks are as a result of our peoples negligence and carelessness.

“Our people should be careful in handling fire because any mishandling can lead to disaster, all electrical appliances should be put off before locking up for the day.”

She called for cooperation among the market operators and fire service department so that markets would be safe as well as achieve a zero fire outbreak incident in Lagos State.