By Francis Nansak, Lafia
As traders count their loses which is estimated N153 million from Saturday’s inferno that destroyed their wares, lawmaker representing Nasarawa Toto Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rep. Abdulmumuni Ari has joined in blaming the incident on the fire service and electricity distribution company serving the area.
Rep Ari who was at the scene of the fire incident to symphatise with the traders, swiftly made a cash donation of N500,000 to help in evacuating the destroyed warehouse where sesame seeds and melon were kept in hundreds of bags.
Expressing his regrets and sympathy with the traders, Ari assured that he will do everything humanly possible to ensure that the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), as well as the Nasarawa State Government come to the traders’ aid.
He added that he would use his office to prevail on the good leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule in the state to intervene in restoring the burnt market.
“As you can see, the market located here in Nasarawa town is not only patronized by our people of Nasarawa Local Government alone, but people from all works of life come in here to buy and sell.
“This portion of the market which has been razed down by fire is one of the warehouses in the market that sesame seed, known in Hausa as ridi and Melon” egusi is stocked in large numbers of bags.
“I couldn’t have stayed longer than now to take assessment of the devastating and disastrous fire incident that occured on Saturday morning, leaving owners of the farm produces as well as traders counting their loses, ” he said.
Ali said from preliminary findings at his disposal, “the fire started as a result of the unstable supply of electricity, which would had been brought down if the fire fighters of the Nasarawa State Fire Service had promptly responded when the incident was reported.”
Hr lamented that reports showed that the fire fighters did not show up, talk less of tackling the raging fire that consumed the entire warehouse.
“I am their representative, and I will within my capacity do everything to make sure that NEMA and the Nasarawa State Government come in and help restore the hope of this traders who are already counting their loses in hundred millions of Naira, at a very critical economic situation as the one we are facing,” Ari submitted.
Lamenting on behalf of others traders, the Chairman, Noma Tushin Arziki Cooperative Society, Alhaji Ibrahim Salihu Ache, said the incident happened in the early hours of 19th August, at about 3 am.
“I was contacted on phone that fire is burning in our cooperative warehouse, I had to rush to the warehouse. At that time, it was only one shop that was on fire, and that is where the fire started.
“I quickly went to the fire service office and met with the personnels. I was the one that even woke them from sleep to tell them that there is fire outbreak in the market and our warehouse is affected.
“And they said: “Oh Alhaji, sorry, we can not assist you because the vehicle for fire fighting is not working for almost two weeks now.
“I was shocked and surprised and had to return to the market disappointed. But with the help of people around us, we had to struggle but at that time the fire had extended into some parts of the warehouse,” Alhaji Ache narrated.
He sincerely commended the Emir of Nasarawa and the Eze Igbo, who opened their gates to allow people to enter their residence to fetch water which was used to combat the inferno.
Counting their loses, Alhaji Ache reminded that this is the melon season when farmers bring their farm produce to the market to sale.
He regretted that goods estimated at N153million were lost by farmers who cannot afford their meals until after the sale of their melon.
“So, going by our estimate statistically (sic), we have lost over one hundred and fifty three million Naira N153 million,” he recounted.
Ache further explained that there were over 170 bags of melon stored in the warehouse, stating further that since Saturday when the fire gutted the warehouse, they had written a letter of complain to the senator representing the zone, the House of Representatives member and also to the State House Of Assembly member.
He blamed the cause of the fire disaster on the DisCo and the fire service for their inabilities which led to the fire outbreak and loses in the market.