· FCTA bans sale of inflammable materials
By Chuks NZEH and Laraba MURREY
At least 15 persons lost their lives in the unfortunate fire outbreak that rocked parts of the Maitama Ultra-Modern Market in Kubwa, after a kerosene tank allegedly erupted in flames.
Though investigations into the market inferno is still ongoing, unconfirmed reports claim that the fire started after a tank of adulterated kerosene was supplied to a dealer in the market.
FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu a visit of 10 victims of Kubwa market disaster
The Director FCT Fire Service, Malam Sani Sa’idu, while conducting the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, round the market, said though the cause of the fire outbreak is yet to be established, but that preliminary investigations show that the fire started from a shop where kerosene was being sold.
Speaking at the scene of the explosion, a resident of the area, Kennedy Dimaku, said residents suspect that the Kerosene the dealer bought was adulterated with Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, which made it highly inflammable.
He stressed that “the fire that came from the outbreak is more than what kerosene can do imagine the explosion that threw the big tank from the ground where it was to the roof top. The fire was uncontrollable at the initial time because there were several attempts to put it out initially but all to no avail until the pressure subsided.”
Dimaku said the compound where the Kerosene tank was located was the worst hit, as about 6 persons lost their lives in the compound including, including a heavily pregnant woman.
He also added that another neighbour lost his first daughter, while his second daughter is hospitalized due to injuries from the fire. He said another resident of the area also lost two daughters and the wife is in a critical condition in the hospital due to injuries sustained from the fire.
“We were here when the police came to evacuate 5 corpse and moved them to the General Hospital , while some of those rescued were taken to the National Hospital. However, this morning when we went there, we learnt that 2 of them had died. We also heard that some persons about 3 persons were evacuated by there relations last night.
Another resident of the area who gave his name as Joseph Chukwu, says he suspect the kerosene supplied the woman was adulterated due to the high cost of kerosene.
He claims that the supplier of the Kerosene had supplied the woman who sells the product and 30 minutes the supply was made, fire engulfed the section of the market.
According to him, the son of the woman was shining a lantern for his mother who was fetching kerosene from the tank when the explosion occurred, killing 15 persons in the process.
The Chief Medical Director of Kubwa General Hospital, Dr. Lasisi Muyideen, told our correspondent that five persons were brought into the hospital dead.
He said 11 people were however brought alive and five have so far been discharged, while five others were sent to the Trauma Centre at the National Hospital and the last person still being attended to at Kubwa General Hospital.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, while visiting the scene, warned traders not to sell highly inflammable materials in undesignated areas in line with global best practices.
Aliyu, who lamented the high rate of casualties recorded in the Kubwa market outbreak, also expressed concern over frequent fire outbreaks in major markets across the territory.
The minister, in a statement by her media adviser, Mr. Austine Elemue, stated that the FCT Development Control would be directed to remove all shanties along the road corridors to pave way for emergency operations.
“I want to appeal to our residents to be law abiding when government make policy statement on certain issues. Before now, government has warned residents not to sell kerosene, diesel or any inflammable chemicals in an unauthorised areas. Abuja is a planned city and they are designated areas marked out for such trade.
“I will direct the Development Control to come here and remove all the shanties that blocked the access road leading to the market. I was told that fire fighters find it difficult to even access here due to illegal structures and shanties. All these will be removed by next week and I want you to show understanding in carrying out this exercise,” Aliyu affirmed.
