Senate calls for investigations into incessant fire outbreaks

 

Following the midnight fire outbreak at the Abubakar Rimi market in Kano State on Saturday 26th March, 2016, adjudged to be the worst in the history of market infernos in the country, the Nigeria Senate on Wednesday called for investigation into the incident to unravel circumstances surrounding it and other fire outbreaks in the country.
In a motion sponsored by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (APC Kano Central) and co-sponsored by 24 others, the Senate was alarmed at the rate of fire outbreaks across states of the Federation and demanded government’s intervention, insisting that casualties arising from such incidents cannot be glossed over.
It wondered whether mechanisms for quenching infernos were still effective and responsive in Nigeria, since not much successful extinguishing of fire outbreaks have been recorded by federal or state fire services.

“Worried at the rate which these fire outbreaks occur, it is becoming worrisome and calls to question the effectiveness of our federal and state Fire Service and other emergency response management agencies tasked with the mandate of urgently addressing the trend of inferno among others,” Kwankwaso maintained.
In his contribution, Senator Mohammed Murtala Nyako explained that the way and manner in which fire incidence occur across the North East and West suggested a coordinated attempt by political enemies, hence, there was need for government to focus their investigation on those who might be behind it.

“Mr President, Distinguished Colleagues, I suspect foul play by political enemies or economic saboteurs because of the way, these I cadences happened in the North East and West and any investigation must be focus on those behind it,” Nyako suggested
While commiserating with the victims, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha advocated adequate financial compensation. Lending his support, the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume said the State and federal government should get involved to enable the affected traders start businesses all over again.

In his prayers, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki called for adequate equipping of agencies involved in fire fighting as well as training of personnel in readiness for fire eventualities in the future.
“‘We urge the three tiers of government to provide their fire service departments with requisite State of the art equipment, introduce routine training and motivation strategies of fire service staff so that they can respond more efficiently during fire outbreaks,” Saraki averred.