Association of Traders 39/41 Martins Street, Lagos Island has besieged the Lagos State House of Assembly and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to wade into the incessant fire outbreaks, which is nearly an annual recurring decimal, already taking a negative toll on their livelihoods.
The obviously despondent traders who staged a protest to the Lagos House to drive home their grievances, noted that a particular owner of a fabric store (Brassas Fabric) need be quickly moved out of the market on account of her attitude which seemingly points her as the root cause of their repeated misfortunes.
The placard wielding protesters have inscriptions like: “This is the 5th time Brassas fabric is getting burnt,” “We need government intervention on this matter” , “Our people are out of business because of this fire”, Fausat Fesugboyi Brassas must go”, “Why is the fire always happening at the end of the year”, “We need government assurance on this matter,” “Brassas Fabric Must leave Balogun Market” and many more.
Chairman and Spokesman of the protesting group, Mr. Chibuzo Mbachu who had been transacting his businesses there for over fourteen years, noted that in 2019 he lost goods worth 10 million naira due to the fire outbreak and that the fire incident that occurred last Sunday happens to be the fifth one in Brases Fabric which usually affect other stalls.
“In 2019 I lost goods worth 10 million naira in the fire incident, the recent one that happened on Sunday I lost goods worth more than 2million naira likewise many of my brothers and sisters here, this is fifth time the market is getting burnt, oftentimes at the end of the year.
“She is fond of bragging anytime the fire incident happened that nothing will happen, governor can not do nothing about it, we begging government to investigate the matter very well.
“Mrs Fausat has been ejected previously from two other locations on account of this kind of fire incidents, we implore government to do same in Lagos Island.
“The fire incident of the said property is a misery because the property always get burnt every other year. For instance, the property got burnt in the following years to wit: 2017,November 2018,11th of October 2019 and the recent 9th October 2022.”
A Sixty-one year old woman Madam Funmilayo Ekpek who trades in ready-made wears for both the young and old people, was close to tears while narrating her harrowing moments, on account of which she claimed a loss of goods worth 2million naira.
Madam Ekpek notes that the goods were stolen in process of trying to salvage the situation while the ranging fire was razing all items in view.
She added that at old age so many debts will need be paid to the Microfinance bank where she took the credit facility for her trade.
Another trader whose wares got burnt Juliet Ugwu in a chat with Sunrise.ng said that the fire incident always starts at Brassas Fabrics every time.
“This particular plaza Brassas Fabrics,gets burnt at the last part of the year,this has sent many people back to the village, like I was involved in the last fire incident that happened, I lost my two shops and the new goods I just bought and have never distributed.
On Sunday again the fire incident happened and I lost a lot of my goods, the ones my customers order also, that is why we want government to intervene, is either Brassas leave the plaza for us or she rents it out. I lost close to three million goods and my phones in the fire incident.
She claimed to have seen the owner of Brassas Fabrics around the plaza earlier on Sunday after which the fire incident happened.
Three members of the Lagos State House of Assembly namely, Hon. Lanre Oshun Lagos Mainland constituency 2, Hon Hakeem Sokunle Oshodi Isolo constituency 1 and Hon Adedamola Kasunmu Ikeja 2 were on hand to address and receive the petition of the protesters for onward transmission to the Rt.Hon. Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.
Addressing the protesters Hon. Oshun was quick to note that the house will do the needful on the matter.
“It is unbelievable that someone will celebrate over misfortune, we will investigate the matter and Justice will be done, you will get a feedback within a week.