Allocate shops to real owners after reconstruction, Senate tells Wike

The Senate on Thursday urged the Federal Capital Development Authority and Abuja Municipal Area Council under the leadership of the minister, Nyesom Wike, to re-allocate shops affected by fire at the Karu Main Market to original owners after rebuilding them.

The Karu modern market in Abuja was on Thursday, June 27, gutted by fire.

A viral video on social media indicated that the fire, which began at about 8pm., consumed goods and properties worth millions of naira.

The Senate also urged the Federal Government through its Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs , Disaster Management , Social Development and the National Emergency Management Agency, to urgently provide emergency palliative and relief provisions to cushion the effect of fire on the victims.

The Red Chamber consequently mandated its Committees on Environment and Legislative Compliance , to ensure strict compliance with the resolutions and report back within four weeks .

The resolutions were sequel to a motion sponsored to that effect by Senator Ireti Kingibe ( Labour Party FCT) .

Kingibe in the motion titled “The Karu fire outbreak and the need for safer public places,” informed the Senate that the fire outbreak that occured at Karu main market on June 27, 2024, left scores of traders in tears after goods worth billions of naira were destroyed .

She lamented that the inferno razed almost all the shops and destroyed food stuff, electronics, cosmetics, clothes among other consumables and non-consumable items worth billions of naira.

She said, “These fire outbreaks have become one too many already; with attendant losses running to billions of naira. In the last six months, there have been several incidents of this nature. From Idumota Market Area in Lagos; to the Police Shopping Complex, Mararaba, Nasarawa State; to the Yan Katako Market, Rijiyar Lemu Area of Fagge LGA, Kano State, just to mention a few.

“These fire outbreaks all had the same causative factors which hinged on basic building safety regulations that were either inadequate or not adhered to or out rightly not in place.”

She added, “This state of unpreparedness in safety management cuts across private homes, government buildings, open parks and gardens, markets, shopping malls, Warehouses, Sawmills, fuel tankers, gas and fuel Stations, educational establishments, shops, clubs, hospitals, hotels, and restaurants: thereby exposing ourselves to avoidable mishaps.”