A total of 351 shops and about 1,000 traders have been gravely impacted during the early morning inferno that occurred at the Ladipo Plank Market Fire disaster on the 1st of November, 2023 which started at about 12:45 am.
Nigeriacrime.com learned that the plank market located within Iganmu Road, Amukoko in Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos had all the stalls destroyed by the fire outbreak.
Confirming the incident the Zonal Coordinator, Nigeria Emergency Management Agency Mr Ibrahim, Farinloye said: “During the post-disaster assessment carried by the Agency, the shops in addition to 25 attachments are said to be accommodating not less than five traders squatting together.”
According to Farinloye, “The Secretary of Trader’s Association, Mr. Sola Oyegojk who conducted the assessment team on behalf of the Baba Loja, Alhaji Ayelabawo Tajudeen disclosed that the market management always switched off electricity supply to the market at 8 PM and switched it on at 8 AM every market day.”
“He could not confirm the actual cause of the incident despite all the precautionary measures put in place to avert such an incident.
“He explained that the management ensures that all the premises are thoroughly combed to ensure that no naked fire is left before the closure of the market for the day.
Mr Oyegoke note that though the market is referred to as Plank market it has other artisans who have separate sections such as the tailoring/Fashion designers as well as printers that operate there.
He added that the Association has 1,058 registered members.
During, the assessment the team also noticed two residential buildings close to the market touched by the inferno.
As at the time of assessment, the traders have cleared all the remains of burnt milling and sewing machines.”
Meanwhile, NEMA implored Nigerians to be more safety conscious as we are moving into dry season when the atmosphere will be drier with the accompanied challenges