A devastating fire has completely razed 30 tailoring shops at the new modern market in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, leaving behind millions of naira worth of damage.
The fire broke out late on Thursday night at around 9:30 pm and continued to rage until the early hours of Friday, consuming goods, equipment, and entire businesses.
The Nasarawa State Fire Service, which was called to the scene, struggled for hours to put out the fire due to the vast heaps of refuse that cluttered the marketplace. The intense heat from the flames repeatedly forced the firefighters to retreat, delaying their efforts to control the situation.
“The Fire Took Everything We Had”
Muse Abdullahi, a trader whose shop was among those destroyed in the fire, expressed his shock and devastation. Speaking to Saturday PUNCH, Abdullahi said, “No one knows what caused the fire. It started at about 9:30 pm, and the entire area was covered in flames before we could even react.”
Abdullahi revealed that the fire destroyed 30 shops, including several that were newly stocked with expensive equipment. “The shops that were burnt were mostly made of wood,” he said. “The wooden structures made it easier for the fire to spread quickly to other shops.”
He added, “Seventy percent of the shops that were destroyed had new sewing machines that were delivered just the day before. These included three shops belonging to my father. Other shops affected included those selling shoes and clothes.”
Firefighters Struggle to Control the Blaze
The fire was not only a tragic loss for traders but also a major test for the local fire service. According to Abdullahi, firefighters arrived late, which worsened the situation. “We waited for over an hour for them to come. By the time they arrived, the damage had already been done,” he said.
He further explained the difficulty the firefighters faced in trying to control the fire. “It was only God who knew where they got the water from. Even then, they struggled for hours through the night, but their efforts were in vain,” he lamented.
The fire continued to blaze through the night, only finally being extinguished around 8 am on Friday. By then, much of the market had been destroyed, and the traders had lost almost everything.
A Call for Caution and Action
Abdullahi urged fellow traders in the market to be more cautious with electrical appliances, especially during the Harmattan season, when dry conditions can make fires spread even faster. “We need to be careful with how we use electricity here. This is a wake-up call for all of us,” he said.
The Nasarawa State government has yet to release an official statement about the incident, but local authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the fire and determine whether any safety measures were violated in the market.
As traders begin to assess the extent of their losses, many are left wondering how they will recover from the disaster. Some have called for improvements in the market’s infrastructure, including better fire safety measures, more organized waste management, and quicker emergency response.
“We Can’t Afford to Lose More”
A fellow trader, Ahmed Musa, who operates a shoe store in the market, echoed Abdullahi’s concerns. “It is painful to watch your life’s work go up in flames,” he said. “We can’t afford for this to happen again. The market needs a major overhaul to prevent such disasters in the future.”
As the community begins to rebuild, the tragedy has highlighted long-standing concerns over the state of markets in Nasarawa and other parts of Nigeria. Lack of proper waste management and insufficient fire safety protocols in busy markets have contributed to several similar incidents in the past.
Market Faces Uncertain Future
While many traders are mourning the destruction, the fire has also raised questions about the preparedness of local authorities in handling such emergencies. With a market that is home to numerous small businesses, the loss of 30 shops is a significant blow to the economy of Lafia.
The traders are now calling on the state government to urgently intervene to prevent future disasters. Some are pushing for improved emergency response teams, better fire prevention systems, and proper market regulations to protect them from further losses.
For now, however, the traders are left to cope with the aftermath of the fire, uncertain about what the future holds for their businesses.
