Ladipo market fire outbreak : traders incur losses worth billions of Naira

Ladipo market fire outbreak : traders incur losses worth billions of Naira

Ndigbo- Amaka progressive markets association visits Ladipo

* Calls for urgent government intervention

The Major Market leaders under the auspices of Ndigbo- Amaka progressive markets association are calling on the Federal Government, Lagos State Government, Corporate organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to assist traders, who lost their goods in the fire outbreak, which consumed Ladipo market in Lagos.

They made this call yesterday when the Secretary General and Member of Lagos State market Advisory Council , Hon. Chinedu Ukatu, visited Ladipo market to sympathise with traders, who lost goods worth billions of Naira in the inferno.

Speaking during the visit, Hon. Ukatu, the leader of the team commiserates with traders, who lost their only means of livelihood and are already depressed.
Moved by the huge losses incurred by the traders in the unfortunate fire incident, Hon. Ukatu pledged to use his good office as a member of Lagos State Market Advisory Council, to plead with Government, to assist the traders who appeared helpless after losing all their wares.

Speaking further, Hon. Ukatu appealed to the government to help affected traders in whatever way possible.

He urged leaders of the market to make it mandatory for every shop owner to have fire extinguisher.

On his speech while receiving the delegates , Chief Jude Nwankwo, President General of Ladipo expressed his joy to see other market leaders, who came to commiserate with them. He said that he is still in shock as to what happened in the market, as losses incurred by the traders amounts to billions of Naira.

He appealed to Government for assistance for those directly affected by the inferno.

In his response, Chief Mbamalu,
the Chairman of Aguiyi Ironsi section of the market, where the fire razed expressed shock on the sad incident, saying that he is working with the Local Government Council to unravel the circumstances surrounding the fire incident.

He expressed great pleasure about the timely visit by Hon. Ukatu and his team, thanking them for making time to visit the traders. He prayed that God should continue to guide and direct members of the team as they pilot the affairs of their respective markets.

In the same vein,
Chief Chigozie Okafor and Mr Juluis Gejuojo spoke on behalf of the traders who lost their shops and wares.

Our investigation revealed that some traders lost huge investments and goods worth billions of Naira in the inferno.
For example, Chief Okafor, who trades on steering racks lost over N300 million worth of goods to the fire incident.

Okafor is already feeling depressed and seeks assistance from well- meaning Nigerians and the Government.

More so, Hon. Ukatu has always been in the forefront of advocating the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria. He is very passionate about industrial growth and development. He believes Nigeria needs industrialisation to diversify the economy, in order to create jobs and wealth for the nation.

Recall that Hon. Ukatu is among the Patriotic Nigerians promoting a world class trade zone project in Enugu.
To him, Nigeria can achieve tangible growth in non-oil export sector if government and individual investors look inward to harness the nation’s resources adequately.

Others who were in the team led by Comrade Ukatu to Ladipo market include Nze Basil Osuokwu, Cordinator Ndigboamaka, Hon Mbonu Udochukwu, the Chairman fancy/ furniture dealers – Alaba Intl Market; Mr Vincent Ikwueze, the Chairman Olojo drive traders Alaba Intl Market; Comrade Obinna Obichukwu, President RADA lawanson; Chief Eric Ilechukwu, the President APT trade fair/ Chairman Trade fair stakeholders); Mr Clement Molokwu, Chairman Association of fashion wear dealers Lagos. Mr Ik Ezekwonna. Mr Augustine Omenyi, Chairman United business men and women traders Lagos; Chief Tochukwu Ezeani, Mandilas United traders trade fair and other stakeholders.

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