Lafia, Nasarawa State – A devastating fire swept through the New Modern Market in Lafia late Thursday night, destroying more than 30 shops and goods worth millions of Naira. The blaze, which started around 9:30 pm on December 5, raged until the early hours of Friday, December 6, 2024, leaving traders counting heavy losses.
Firefighters from the Nasarawa State Fire Service rushed to the scene upon receiving a distress call but faced challenges containing the inferno.
Piles of refuse dumped indiscriminately around the market obstructed their efforts, while the intense heat from the flames further hindered operations.
Builder Ombogus-Joshua, the Director of the Nasarawa State Fire Service, confirmed the incident, stating that his team is investigating the cause of the fire and assessing the extent of the damage.
A trader whose shop was destroyed, Musa Abdullahi lamented the significant losses. “Forty new sewing machines delivered just that morning were all burnt, along with three shops owned by my father. Most of the affected shops were tailoring businesses with fabrics and accessories fully stocked for the festive season,” he said.
According to Abdullahi, the fire also destroyed shops selling shoes and clothes, leaving traders without their merchandise during a critical sales period.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, but traders and market stakeholders are urging authorities to improve safety measures and enforce stricter waste management policies to prevent future disasters.
The Nasarawa State Fire Service has promised to release a comprehensive report once investigations are concluded. Meanwhile, traders and residents are calling for immediate support from the government to help affected business owners recover from the tragedy.
This fire is a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining market infrastructure and implementing fire prevention strategies to safeguard livelihoods.