Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Lagos State government has taken a proactive step to prevent frequent fire outbreaks in markets by training and inaugurating Safety and Emergency Marshals.
According to the Director of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola on Thursday, the training aims to equip market representatives with the knowledge to identify hazards, prevent fires, and respond to emergencies.
“Safety is a collective responsibility, and we have decided to take samples of market men and women and train them on safety principles,” Mojola said.
The training program focuses on educating participants about the causes of fire, such as leaving electric sockets on after work, improper placement of generators, and lack of fire extinguishers.
Mojola emphasized that the program is a holistic measure to ensure safer markets and prevent fire disasters. The marshals will also serve as whistle-blowers, reporting infractions directly to the authorities and regulating activities in the market to prevent fires.
Mojola explained that the delay in constituting the safety team in the Lagos Island market was due to the need to put necessary measures in place.
“We have our model right now because we have involved the Locals, CDA, CDC, and the Head of Markets, among others, so we are applying a top-down and bottom-up approach,” he said.
With this initiative, the Lagos State government aims to reduce the risk of fire outbreaks in markets and ensure a safer environment for traders and customers alike.
