Federal Government on Friday called for the installation of fire fighting equipment in strategic areas of major markets, as part of measures aimed at curtailing incessant fire outbreaks across the country.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq gave the charge while sympathizing with the shop owners of the popular Karimo market in the suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over the fire incident that razed the market.
The inferno which occured in the early hours of Thursday affected many shops and destroyed goods worth millions of naira.
The Minister in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Bashir Nura Alkali, expressed dismay over the frequent fire disaster in markets across the country and called on shop owners and market authorities to be fire-conscious to protect lives and property.
She therefore advised that fire fighting equipment should be installed in shops and in strategic areas in the markets.
Farouq also cautioned against cooking and improper handling of electrical appliances in markets to prevent fire disasters.
To this end, the Minister commended the combined efforts of the firefighters from government agencies, companies and individuals that brought the fire under control.
She said the cause of the fire will be investigated by the relevant government authority.
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