Saraki, Others Brainstorm Thursday on How to Prevent Market Fire Outbreaks

By Udora Orizu

Former Senate President, Dr, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, will on Thursday host a meeting of fire experts to brainstorm on ways to address incessant market fire outbreaks in the country.

The dialogue which is being organised under the auspices of the Grow Nigeria Conversation (GNC), the brain child of Saraki, will bring other experts together to share insight and ideas on how to prevent the occurrences.

Experts expected at the event billed for Abuja, according to a statement by the Conveners of the GNC Series, Dr. Lanre Babalola of The African Politeia Initiative and Ariyo-Dare Atoye, of the Adopt A Goal For Development Initiative, include immediate past Controller General of Federal Fire Service, Joseph Garba Anebi; a fire safety expert, Debbie Windele; and an urban planning and development specialist; Dr Taibat Lawanson.

Other expected participants at the seminar are Director, Centre for Disaster Risk Management, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Usman Ado Kibon and CEO/MD of Anchor General Insurance Company, Ebose Austin Osegha and youth participants.

The statement read: “Given the significant contribution of services (trading) to GDP and the central role markets play, what can be done to forestall fires and enhance response to fire incidents?

“Do we need to revisit planning and building of markets? In view of our infrastructure and service limitations, should we not plan, design, and build markets to reflect these realities?
“Should fire-fighting measures and insurance policies be mandatory in markets? Given development, operation and maintenance are the preserve of Local Government Areas (LGAs) and State Governments (SGs), whereas regulation and emergency resources are reposed in SGs and Federal Government (FG), what measures can be put in place to enhance coordination and promote safety?

“We hope this conversation will provide us with answers to some of these fundamental questions and more, but more importantly, we expect the GNC series become fertile ground for the germination of ideas and solutions that can end not only market fires but other menace and challenges we contend with as a nation.”

The statement added that the “GNC is a brainchild of the Former Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, designed to bring pragmatic authenticity to the people’s concerns by engaging young people, experts, professionals, and anyone with quality ideas in diagnosing the problems and offering workable and sustainable answers.