Market fire disaster experience in Lagos State, Nigeria: The chronicle of traders

Urban market fire disasters in recent times are becoming rampant, rendering many homeless and loss of livelihood. This study examines response and recovery measures to market fires in Lagos metropolis using market fire data from the Lagos State Fire Service and questionnaire from traders who are vic...

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Main Authors: Alabi Moruf, Adekalu Bankole, Popoola Ayobami
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Novi Sad 2021-01-01
Series:Zbornik radova Departmana za geografiju, turizam i hotelijerstvo
Subjects:
Online Access:https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/1452-0133/2021/1452-01332150104A.pdf
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author Alabi Moruf
Adekalu Bankole
Popoola Ayobami
author_facet Alabi Moruf
Adekalu Bankole
Popoola Ayobami
author_sort Alabi Moruf
collection DOAJ
description Urban market fire disasters in recent times are becoming rampant, rendering many homeless and loss of livelihood. This study examines response and recovery measures to market fires in Lagos metropolis using market fire data from the Lagos State Fire Service and questionnaire from traders who are victims of fire disaster in the area. In this study, questionnaire was administered to two hundred and fifty market traders in twenty-five markets of sixteen local government area where fire disaster occurred. Interview was also conducted for market stakeholders and government officials. Findings from the analysis show that in a seven year period market fires have affected over 50 markets in Lagos metropolis. Traders reported that response to fire calls has been poor from emergency responders who, more often than not, arrive late and ill-equipped at fire scenes. Traders have also often been helpless resorting to crude and less effective means of firefighting like pouring water and detergent solution on the fire. It also shows that 68.6% of the market fires were caused by electrical faults. The Chi-square analysis revealed an observed difference in the recovery duration amongst markets affected with a chi-square coefficient of 0.000, in which biasness was observed in the distribution of relief materials amongst the different local government involved with a chi-square coefficient of 0.000. The study reveals that the rate and duration amongst markets affected varied with wealth of the traders and the type of wares sold. Some traders never returned after the incident. It also appears from the field study that markets in the affected areas were not designed or prepared to combat fire eventualities due to their inaccessibility to fire fighting vehicles. Some others were far from the available water hydrants and lacked enough fire extinguishers. The study concluded that Lagos market fire outbreaks are avoidable incidences. However, it would remain recurrent if the markets vulnerable are not restructured for safety. The researchers recommend that governments at all levels should strengthen the capacity and revitalise emergency management agencies towards urban market fire disaster preparedness and mitigation.
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spelling doaj.art-27d7ca131bbd471e805da8fb870a2bc22022-12-22T00:37:06ZengUniversity of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Novi SadZbornik radova Departmana za geografiju, turizam i hotelijerstvo1452-01332334-70742021-01-01202150-210412110.5937/ZbDght2102104M1452-01332150104AMarket fire disaster experience in Lagos State, Nigeria: The chronicle of tradersAlabi Moruf0Adekalu Bankole1Popoola Ayobami2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9742-0604University of Ibadan, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Ibadan, NigeriaUniversity of Ibadan, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Ibadan, NigeriaUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal, SARChI Chair for Inclusive Cities, KwaZulu-Natal, NigeriaUrban market fire disasters in recent times are becoming rampant, rendering many homeless and loss of livelihood. This study examines response and recovery measures to market fires in Lagos metropolis using market fire data from the Lagos State Fire Service and questionnaire from traders who are victims of fire disaster in the area. In this study, questionnaire was administered to two hundred and fifty market traders in twenty-five markets of sixteen local government area where fire disaster occurred. Interview was also conducted for market stakeholders and government officials. Findings from the analysis show that in a seven year period market fires have affected over 50 markets in Lagos metropolis. Traders reported that response to fire calls has been poor from emergency responders who, more often than not, arrive late and ill-equipped at fire scenes. Traders have also often been helpless resorting to crude and less effective means of firefighting like pouring water and detergent solution on the fire. It also shows that 68.6% of the market fires were caused by electrical faults. The Chi-square analysis revealed an observed difference in the recovery duration amongst markets affected with a chi-square coefficient of 0.000, in which biasness was observed in the distribution of relief materials amongst the different local government involved with a chi-square coefficient of 0.000. The study reveals that the rate and duration amongst markets affected varied with wealth of the traders and the type of wares sold. Some traders never returned after the incident. It also appears from the field study that markets in the affected areas were not designed or prepared to combat fire eventualities due to their inaccessibility to fire fighting vehicles. Some others were far from the available water hydrants and lacked enough fire extinguishers. The study concluded that Lagos market fire outbreaks are avoidable incidences. However, it would remain recurrent if the markets vulnerable are not restructured for safety. The researchers recommend that governments at all levels should strengthen the capacity and revitalise emergency management agencies towards urban market fire disaster preparedness and mitigation.https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/1452-0133/2021/1452-01332150104A.pdfmarket traderfire disasteremergency-responders; responserecovery
spellingShingle Alabi Moruf
Adekalu Bankole
Popoola Ayobami
Market fire disaster experience in Lagos State, Nigeria: The chronicle of traders
Zbornik radova Departmana za geografiju, turizam i hotelijerstvo
market trader
fire disaster
emergency-responders; response
recovery
title Market fire disaster experience in Lagos State, Nigeria: The chronicle of traders
title_full Market fire disaster experience in Lagos State, Nigeria: The chronicle of traders
title_fullStr Market fire disaster experience in Lagos State, Nigeria: The chronicle of traders
title_full_unstemmed Market fire disaster experience in Lagos State, Nigeria: The chronicle of traders
title_short Market fire disaster experience in Lagos State, Nigeria: The chronicle of traders
title_sort market fire disaster experience in lagos state nigeria the chronicle of traders
topic market trader
fire disaster
emergency-responders; response
recovery
url https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/1452-0133/2021/1452-01332150104A.pdf
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