The Lagos State government has expressed its commitment to putting a total stop to fire incidents in marketplaces statewide, with its inauguration of Safety and Emergency Marshals.

Through the Safety Commission, the government said it has become imperative to have market representatives that would ensure emergency preparedness in markets to check fire disasters.

Speaking at the Obanikoro Market, Lagos Island, yesterday, Director of Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, observed that the training was to sensitize participants to hazard identification, prevention and recovery, as well as response around the markets.

He said previous infernos had cost the state a lot in terms of compensation of victims and insurance obligations.

His words: ?Safety is a collective responsibility, and what we have decided to do, is to take samples of market men and women, and train them on principles of safety.

?Today, we have brought together a team of 50 people that were being trained on market safety, and they will be the first set of market safety fire wardens in this market.

?We are trying to enlighten them so that we do not have any fire disaster. We are taking them through the causes of fire, the idea of leaving the electric sockets on after work, the placement of the generator inside their shops, and the lack of fire extinguishers as improper. But beyond the fire, we still have risks in the market; we have others like running and flying cables, and all that. So, it is a holistic measure of how we can have safer markets and ensure a sustainable market with zero fire incident, going forward in Lagos State.?

Earlier, the Technical Adviser to Lagos Safety Commission, Seun Awojobi, explained that markets were vital to the economic development of the state, and remain the hub of commerce that must be protected from hazards such as fire outbreaks, accidents, and others.

A facilitator, Adeyinka Adebiyi, exposed the participants to hazards in the markets, and reeled out comprehensive safety principles.

IN a related development, the government, yesterday, issued a 48-hour quit notice to traders under Apogbon Bridge and others operating on the drainage setbacks on Lagos Island ahead of commencement of urban regeneration on the Island.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, issued the eviction notice while addressing the media after an inspection tour of Savage/Elegbata Bombata Drainage channel around Olowogbowo-Apongbon axis in Lagos Island.

He noted that negative human activities in the axis contribute to flooding, and posing serious threat to life and property.

wahab explained that the tour followed setback of the two critical drainage collectors, Bombata-Olusi and Alagbafo, which have allegedly converted them into shops/stalls, adding that the channels were initially not captured in the Lagos Island regeneration process, thus hampering the success of the process.

?I have instructed that the shop/stall owners be served abatement notice. We are going to clear these infractions and keep the maintenance work going, while ensuring that the contract is revisited to accommodate these two collectors,? he said.

The commissioner warned developers and residents against dump building materials on roads and drainage channels to allow free flow of water. (The Guardian)

?PHOTO: Permanent Secretary, Office of the Drainage Service, Ministry of Environment, Mahmood Adegbite (left); Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab; Director, Drainage Enforcement, Sunday Awe, during the inspection tour of buildings on a canals? setback in Lagos Island and the environs? yesterday. PHOTO: NAN