By Miriam Humbe
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Abuja Operations Office (AOO), in collaboration with key emergency management stakeholders, organised a comprehensive fire safety awareness campaign at the popular Wuse Market in Abuja to sensitise traders and market users on fire prevention and emergency response.
The Head of Operations, NEMA AOO, Abubakar Zakari, reiterated the critical importance of safety consciousness, stressing that most market fire outbreaks are preventable with the right knowledge, vigilance, and behavioural practises.
He noted that the sensitisation drive aligns with the vision and directive of the Director General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, who has consistently advocated proactive safety measures, community engagement, and disaster risk reduction to safeguard lives and livelihoods.
Zakari urged traders to adopt safe practises such as proper electrical installations, cautious handling of flammable materials, safe storage of fuel and chemicals, and immediate reporting of potential hazards to relevant authorities.
He also encouraged market leadership to establish safety committees and collaborate closely with emergency response agencies to ensure early warning and rapid intervention in the event of emergencies.
The campaign recorded strong participation from key stakeholders, including the NEMA NYSC Vanguard, Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Red Cross Society, and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
Officers from these agencies delivered lectures to traders on fire prevention, first response actions, evacuation procedures, and the importance of installing basic firefighting equipment such as fire extinguishers and sand buckets in their shops.
A practical fire control and response demonstration was conducted, during which traders were trained on the proper use of fire extinguishers and fire blankets.
Participants were guided through hands-on drills to build confidence in handling minor fire incidents before they escalated into major disasters.
A question-and-answer session followed, allowing traders to seek clarification and dispel common myths and misconceptions about fire prevention and control.
Experts from the participating agencies provided practical answers and reinforced key safety messages.
Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, including flyers and information leaflets on fire safety, were distributed to traders and market users to ensure sustained awareness beyond the campaign.
Light refreshments were served to participants, after which members of the media engaged stakeholders in interactive sessions to further highlight the importance of community-based disaster risk reduction.
The exercise forms part of NEMA’s ongoing commitment to strengthening community resilience through public sensitisation, capacity building, and stakeholder collaboration, with the ultimate goal of reducing the incidence and impact of market fire disasters across Nigeria.
