Victory Bernard
The Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON) has condemned the Balogun Market fire, stressing the need to review market safety structure to avert more consequences.
Recall earlier on Tuesday that a building on the popular Balogun market located at Lagos Island caught fire causing serious damage to some properties and leaving occupants in scamper.
In videos shared on social media, the fire was seen billowing from a Shopping Plaza in the crowded market located at 43, Martins Street, Lagos Island.
In an chat with HSENations reporter, the National spokesperson of ISPON, Engr. Timothy Iwuagwu, stated that the issue of market place fires in Lagos and other states of Nigeria had become both recurrent and embarrassing as he linked it to the freedom enjoyed by urban dwellers.
“This is so, considering the level of emancipation our urban dwellers have attained and the consistent fire safety awareness information available in the public domain,” he said.
Iwuagwu, who doubles as the chairman of ISPON, Lagos Branch, noted that the time had come for proper review of markets, as well as serious safety implementation that would be beneficial to all.
“But it has long been increasingly obvious that the structure of our market place administration need serious and deliberate review and overhaul to incorporate the appointment of market health and safety officers with visible and well spelt out roles consistent with the size, activities, proximity to emergency first responder facility, complexity, waste collection and regular disposal, physical layout and corridor for emergency responders; health and sanitary facilities, as well as provisions for public conveniences within the market complex.”
“Whatever rules and regulations we may put in place can only be as good as the implementation and enforcement of such rules.”
“The government can create employment opportunities for Professionals and young graduates from this,” he said.