This is another post in the "The Problem With Nigeria Is Nigerians" series.
Market fires have been very common in Nigeria since I was a kid. As I've previously written, it has become a tradition that there would be fire outbreaks at the Oko Baba Sawmill on Lagos Mainland and at the various markets on Lagos Island during the Dry Season. This has become the norm.
However, in recent times, something absolutely crazy has accompanied these fire outbreaks. There has been this insane claim that the fires were deliberately set so that (1) the government could take over the markets (2) in order to chase Igbos away.
Of course these claims are absolute nonsense. There have been fire outbreaks in markets all over Nigeria and these fire outbreaks have been a regular occurrence for decades. For example, were these fires set because the Lagos State Government wants to take over land or because it wants to drive Igbos away?
And if you research each one of these markets, going back more than 40 years, you'll discover that it has suffered from regular fire outbreaks.
But that's not even what this post is about.
You see, one of the reasons why problems do not get solved in Nigeria is because Nigerians love sensational lies. The rational thing to do when there is a problem is to properly investigate the actual cause of the problem and then to take action to prevent this problem for occurring again. But what happens when you administer malaria medicine to a typhoid patient?
Instead of sensibly analysing the causes of problems, many Nigerians would rather create some ridiculous and nonsensical conspiracy theory and then they'll start chasing that theory. What this means is that the problem will never be solved, because they are chasing the wrong cause. The typhoid patient will die.
This is why there will continue to be regular fire outbreaks at markets all over Nigeria.
Instead of realising that they need to have fire suppression systems at the markets, instead of realising that they need to have better means of storing flammable goods, instead of realising that they need to make the markets accessible to large fire trucks (no street trading or obstructing market roads with goods or large trucks), instead of having fire alarms, instead of conducting fire safety lectures for traders in the market and instead of having fire hydrants and other such things in the market, people will keep chasing a useless conspiracy theory that government wants to take the land. Do you think that government needs to set fire to the market in order to take over the land if it really wants to??
I'll give you an example.
It became a tradition in Nigeria that high rise building would be burnt down by fire in the 1980s and 1990s. I can tell you about many high rise buildings that were thoroughly burnt at that time. There was NET Building in 1983, Nepa Building in 1982 and 1990, Independence Building in 1993, Lapal House c2001 and so on and so forth.
Yes, there were conspiracy theories about the cause of these fires. People claimed that government officials had stolen money and therefore, they set fire to the buildings in order to hide evidence of the fraud.
However, thankfully, the conspiracy theorists were not in charge of the buildings. The people that are in charge of the buildings are more sensible than the conspiracy theorists. They had investigations into the causes of the fire and how to prevent or minimise them.
These investigations showed that (1) there were no snorkels (aerial platforms) in Nigeria (2) Tall buildings needed to have fire suppression systems (sprinklers) (3) There was a need to have fire hydrants near tall buildings (because water trucks will not have enough water to deal with such large fires), (4) there was a need to have helipads on roofs or fire escapes through which occupants of such buildings could escape, etc.
These measures were put in place (Union Bank actually bought its own snorkel for its headquarters) and now you don't hear of tall buildings burning down the way you used to hear about it in the 1980s and 1990s.
The same could be done for markets, but lunatics would create all kinds of conspiracy theories if the government tries to enforce them (Nigerians hate regulations and enforcement of regulations, yet they want a better society. Nigerians are the problem of Nigeria).
Bedminton: Sometimed i wonder what keep burning this market, is it human mistake or intentional? Market getting burn here and dere!
naptu2: The only unusual thing this time is that it occurred during the Rainy Season.
It has almost become a tradition that there should be major fire outbreaks at Oko Baba (on the Mainland) and on Lagos Island sometime between September and January every year. The reason for the fire outbreaks is quite obvious.
Oko Baba is a gigantic illegal sawmill. Dry wood is stored haphazardly over a wide area in Ebute Metta. The wood and sawdust is often burnt there, making it difficult for motorists on Third Mainland Bridge to see (driving down that stretch of the bridge is extremely dangerous because of the smoke). The Government has had plans to relocate the sawmills for a very long time. These plans have often been frustrated by people who spread rumours that the government just wants to steal land. It seems as if there is a major fire outbreak at that place every single dry season. There was another fire outbreak there yesterday.
There have also been fire outbreaks at the various markets on Lagos Island almost every Dry Season since the 1980s. One of the reasons for the fires on Lagos Island is the enormous amount of illegal fireworks that are stored there every Christmas season. The fire in 2012 caused such a huge explosion that some people thought that Boko Haram militants had bombed Lagos. The explosion was so powerful that it knocked down part of the building in which the fireworks were stored. The sale, distribution and use of these fireworks have been illegal since the early 1980s, but people keep using them during the Christmas season and so there is a huge market for them and this market is centred around Lagos Island.
The large number of clothes that are sold on Lagos Island also serve as fuel for these fire outbreaks that occur during the Dry Season. On one occasion someone was trying to refuel an electricity generator that was still on and this caused a fire that burnt through bales of fabric.
VIDEO: Firefighters battle raging fire overnight at Lagos market
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service says it has brought the fire that gutted buildings at a market on Dosunmu Street, in the Lagos Island area of the state under control.
The agency’s Director, Margaret Adeseye, in a statement, said the fire which was reported at 8:50pm on Saturday involved “a trio of three-storey buildings.” She noted that the timely intervention of firefighters limited the fire to only the topmost floors of the buildings.
“Meanwhile, the cause of the fire is yet unknown as investigation will reveal thereafter while it affected variety of goods that include key lock/cylinder, decoration fittings, Christmas items, among others which cost could be immediately ascertained.
“There is no record of injury nor death as operations enter dampening down,” Adeseye added.
VIDEO: Firefighters battle raging fire overnight at Lagos market
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service says it has brought the fire that gutted buildings at a market on Dosunmu Street, in the Lagos Island area of the state under control. 1/4 pic.twitter.com/Mi3H7Kj4Xx
naptu2: The only unusual thing this time is that it occurred during the Rainy Season.
It has almost become a tradition that there should be major fire outbreaks at Oko Baba (on the Mainland) and on Lagos Island sometime between September and January every year. The reason for the fire outbreaks is quite obvious.
Oko Baba is a gigantic illegal sawmill. Dry wood is stored haphazardly over a wide area in Ebute Metta. The wood and sawdust is often burnt there, making it difficult for motorists on Third Mainland Bridge to see (driving down that stretch of the bridge is extremely dangerous because of the smoke). The Government has had plans to relocate the sawmills for a very long time. These plans have often been frustrated by people who spread rumours that the government just wants to steal land. It seems as if there is a major fire outbreak at that place every single dry season. There was another fire outbreak there yesterday.
There have also been fire outbreaks at the various markets on Lagos Island almost every Dry Season since the 1980s. One of the reasons for the fires on Lagos Island is the enormous amount of illegal fireworks that are stored there every Christmas season. The fire in 2012 caused such a huge explosion that some people thought that Boko Haram militants had bombed Lagos. The explosion was so powerful that it knocked down part of the building in which the fireworks were stored. The sale, distribution and use of these fireworks have been illegal since the early 1980s, but people keep using them during the Christmas season and so there is a huge market for them and this market is centred around Lagos Island.
The large number of clothes that are sold on Lagos Island also serve as fuel for these fire outbreaks that occur during the Dry Season. On one occasion someone was trying to refuel an electricity generator that was still on and this caused a fire that burnt through bales of fabric.
adeniranfam: It was one idiot that stored knockout in the last floor and it affected other building. Government need to this knockout
That's what caused the massive 2012 fire also. It's like there's always a fire outbreak at those markets during the ember months and fireworks is one of the major causes.
I remember when this song was released and when it was on the charts. It's the theme song of the hit late '90s and early 2000s sitcom Friends.
So no one told you that your life was gonna be this way. Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's DOA. It's like you're always stuck in second gear. When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year, but
'FRIENDS' STAR MATTHEW PERRY DEAD AT 54 ... After Apparent Drowning
28/10/2023
Matthew Perry -- one of the stars of 'Friends' -- has died ... TMZ has learned.
Law enforcement sources tell us the actor was found Saturday at an L.A.-area home ... where we're told he appears to have drowned. Our sources say first-responders rushed over on a call for cardiac arrest. It's unclear where exactly on the grounds this happened.
Our sources say he was found in a jacuzzi at the home ... and we're told there were no drugs found at the scene. We're also told there is no foul play involved.
Perry is most famous for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit '90s sitcom, which ran for 10 seasons ... and with him in all 234 episodes. His character was a fan fave, as was performance -- mannerisms and lines of which have gone on to be recreated and spoofed by fans all over the world. One comes to mind, in particular ... "Could (blank) BE more .."
While 'Friends' was his biggest claim to fame ... MP had starred/guest starred in countless other TV shows over the years -- such as 'Boys Will Be Boys,' 'Growing Pains,' 'Silver Spoons,' 'Charles in Charge,' 'Sydney,' 'Beverly Hills, 90210,' 'Home Free,' 'Ally McBeal,' 'The West Wing,' 'Scrubs,' 'Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,' 'Go On,' 'The Odd Couple' and more.
He had also acted in a handful of memorable films (mostly comedy) ... like 'Fools Rush In,' 'The Whole Nine Yards,' 'Three to Tango,' 'The Kid,' '17 Again,' 'Getting In,' and many others. He's been off the scene more recently ... not having acted since a TV mini series in 2017.
While his onscreen persona was affable and upbeat, Matthew suffered mightily behind the scenes -- notably, from his addiction to drugs and alcohol ... pain killers, specifically. He was hooked on Vicodin for years -- even while on 'Friends' -- and had been in and out of rehab.
Matthew opened up about this painful chapter of his life in a memoir he put out last year -- where he detailed the struggles he had ... including his clear weight-loss/gain on the show.
During his press run for his book ... Matthew did a number of interviews where he got incredibly emotional -- including one with Diane Sawyer, where he detailed his story.
While Perry appeared to be clean and sober a year ago, the year prior -- when he and the other cast members were plugging the 'Friends' reunion show -- drew concern from fans ... as they felt he appeared unwell, at times slurring his words and looking a bit out of it.
On top of his substance use ... Matthew also dealt with health issues, some of which were serious and required hospitalizations. One such incident stemmed from a gastrointestinal perforation -- which forced him to undergo emergency surgery ... but he luckily recovered.
Matthew never married, but he was briefly engaged to Molly Hurwitz a couple years ago ... which came to an end after only 6 months. Before that, he'd been linked to Lizzy Caplan.
VIDEO: Firefighters battle raging fire overnight at Lagos market
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service says it has brought the fire that gutted buildings at a market on Dosunmu Street, in the Lagos Island area of the state under control.
The agency’s Director, Margaret Adeseye, in a statement, said the fire which was reported at 8:50pm on Saturday involved “a trio of three-storey buildings.” She noted that the timely intervention of firefighters limited the fire to only the topmost floors of the buildings.
“Meanwhile, the cause of the fire is yet unknown as investigation will reveal thereafter while it affected variety of goods that include key lock/cylinder, decoration fittings, Christmas items, among others which cost could be immediately ascertained.
“There is no record of injury nor death as operations enter dampening down,” Adeseye added.
VIDEO: Firefighters battle raging fire overnight at Lagos market
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service says it has brought the fire that gutted buildings at a market on Dosunmu Street, in the Lagos Island area of the state under control. 1/4 pic.twitter.com/Mi3H7Kj4Xx
Fire has broken out at the Lagos Market on Dosunmu Street as the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service battle the inferno involving a 3-storey building and adjoining structures.
Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga Jr, Folorunsho Alakija, Femi Otedola, Sayyu Dantata, Tajudeen Dantata and many more all live and work in Lagos. Although he now lives in France, Gilbert Chagoury stays in Lagos when he is in Nigeria. Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Peter and Paul Okoye and most of our entertainment stars live in Lagos as do most of our active and retired footballers (who are not currently playing in Europe).
StOla: Lagos State Government should demolish and build modern markets that would be designed to operate in a way to achieve the sanitary standards that these outdated markets can never meet up with.
For instance, you cannot be building roads with very wide gutters and not expect that the drain would be full of refuse, which from time to time you then need to clear out with all these shutdown threats and sanitary exercise.
Instead build the road with fully enclosed gutters that have drain opening covered by gratings to sift anything besides water.
This is the logic to be applied to new market designs compared to the old markets that require a tedious exercise to get rid of waste generation not properly managed from source.
All those rubbish we call market should be demolished.
You'll be accused of hating the poor once you try to build a standard market (even if you arrange mortgage facilities like Fashola did) and you'll be accused of giving the market to your friends once you allow the private sector to get involved.
naptu2: Unfortunately, they did that with Tejuosho, Sura, etc. and were condemned for it (it's too expensive, it's a means to steal money, etc https://www.nairaland.com/412929/fashola-accused-tejuosho-market-scam-a#5688235 ), so what they did was to let the market associations run the markets (I guess they are also part of the private sector).
UPDATE: The Lagos State Government has reopened Alaba International Market and some markets in the Trade Fair Complex, all located in Ojo, Lagos, after days of closure for improper waste disposal and other environmental infractions.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said the markets were reopened after addressing most of the environmental issues, adding however, that the closure was not politically motivated, but rather a step towards ensuring a clean and healthy environment around the business facilities.
He said, “The decision to reopen the markets follows a rigorous assessment and implementation of stringent environmental standards. These standards were set to guarantee that businesses in the state operate in a manner that is not detrimental to the environment and the well-being of people.
“I want to state emphatically that the closure of those markets has no ethnic or political motives behind it, as it was done to ensure cleanliness and environmental sustainability for the good of all residents.”
Wahab reiterated the significance of maintaining a harmonious balance between commerce and environmental health, stating that the enforcement action was a continous one, as government would not shy away from sealing any market, corporate organisations, found wanting.
The Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the agency worked closely with the markets' stakeholders to ensure that they implemented necessary changes to meet required environmental standards, adding that it was important for markets to operate in a manner that was not only economically viable but also environmentally responsible.
He said, "We have standards that each market in the state have to comply with, to make our business environment clean and healthy for both buyers and sellers. These include but not limited to: proper containarisation of waste within the markets; procurement of a double dino bins and placement in designated areas within the markets; engagement of bin keepers to monitor and sanitise the bins and its surroundings; zero tolerance for open burning of waste; zero tolerance for dumping of waste in the drainage channels.
Others are, engagement of market policing personnel to monitor the sanitation of the market, setbacks, medians and its surroundings to avoid indiscriminate dumping and apprehend violators; eradication of street trading on the road and median setbacks, which obstructs free flow of traffic and full payment of all outstanding tariffs, stressing that any violation will attract not only a penalty but subsequent closure".
Gbadegesin urged residents and business owners to show commitment towards environmental sustainability, through proper waste disposal and adherence to environmental laws of the state, to prevent such closure that could negatively impact business activities.
For waste management related issues in your area, call LAWMA toll-free numbers: 07080601020 and 617.
GanagiBitrus: This sounds good on paper, but imagine a scenario where a hospital attends to an armed robber. The police investigations and interrogations that will take place in that hospital may likely disrupt business for them.
This is the major concern of hospitals that police have to address. Unless police can compensate such hospitals for any loss of business.
The advice from the police (in the past few years) has been, start treating the patient, then send someone to inform the police (or call them). That way the patient lives and the police are aware. Don't refuse treatment.
77up: Little answer to your little question. Those places are dirty because of non challante of those offenders. Dirty don't drop itself and not dropped by government.
You are responding to a troll. The notice was that they were asked to sweep Maryland Bus Stop and outside General Hospital, but he has been saying that they are cleaning government secretariat.
Politics › Re: "Lagos Is Home To Over 50% Of Nigeria’s Wealthy Individuals” – Report by naptu2: 9:05am On Oct 29, 2023
