Over 10,000 shops were destroyed within the last five months in various fire incidents that affected 29 markets in 20 states across the country, 21st Century Chronicle investigation has revealed.
Investigations, through analysis of media reports from November 2020 to March this year, also revealed that six people died during the incidents.
Traders lost property and goods worth billions of naira in the various infernos that gradually assume a national calamity.
Poor planning or some of the markets, apparent disregard for safety measures, overcrowding, late arrival of safety officials contribute to the monumental loss incurred during these fires.
The latest incidents were in Katsina central market and a popular market in Zamfara state on Monday, where 100 shops and 60 shops were destroyed, respectively.
Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, had the highest rate of three incidents each within the period under review. While 142 shops were destroyed in the Lagos incidents, over 100 shops were affected in Abuja.
Two incidents were recorded at different times in Kaduna, Kwara, Yobe, Anmabra, Osun and River state. While over 300 shops were destroyed in Kaduna, 20 were destroyed in Kwara, over 108 in Anambra, 30 in Osun, 30 in Potiskum market in Yobe state, and unspecified number in Rivers state.
Sokoto, Niger, Benue, Oyo, Ondo, Delta, Enugu, Bauchi, Kano and Bayelsa had one case each within the period. But while 9,600 shops were destroyed in the Sokoto incidents at the Shehu Shagari modern market, 100 shops were destroyed in Bauchi, 20 shops in Enugu, 18 in Kano, and 8 shops in Oyo state.
Unspecified number of shops were destroyed in Bayelsa, Benue, Delta, Niger and Ondo incidents.
