Traders in Masaka market, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, have reopened their businesses amidst trauma and losses, seeking for government compensation.
Some of the affected traders, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews on Tuesday, said their families have faced a lot of hardship as a result of the fire incident.
NAN reports that the market, popularly known as Masaka Market was razed by fire in December 2024.
The market operates every day and densely crowded by sellers and buyers on Friday which they tagged “ Masaka Market Day”.
The traders pleaded with the government to look into the cause of the fire incident to avoid further reoccurrence of such disaster.
They appealed to the state government to assist them, by devising a way of compensating them so that they could return to their business.
Mr Danlami Gimba, the Chairman of Traders Union, said goods worth millions of Naira were lost as a result of the fire incident.
The union chairman said that some members of the union lost their lives as a result of shock from the fire that has taken away their source of livelihood.
Gimba, a dealer on different chemicals and fertilizer, said in spite of the situation, he was optimistic that all affected traders would return to business soon.
“I personally lost over N20 million worth of goods, some of the goods were collected on credit and some bought from loans.
“Three of our members died as a result of the fire incidence and many who deal in goods worth millions are now selling on small tables in order to fend for their families,” Gimba said.
Gimba said the governor and some officials visited the market and promised to find solutions, as well as compensate them after investigations.
He also said that even though investigations were still ongoing, the government should facilitate the compensation promised to them.
Speaking on insurance policies, Gimba said there was no provision for insurance policies for traders, except for some traders who engaged in various contributions individually for purpose of savings.
Similarly, the Chairman of Foodstuffs in the market, Mr Cyprian Eze, said there were no resources for most of them to fall back on to return to businesses.
Eze lamented that he just restocked his shops with provisions and food stuffs shortly before the incident.
“I did this so I can concentrate on my children education in the New Year,’’ he said.
Eze said that he had five shops stocked with foodstuffs, expressed hope that the state government would keep the promised of compensation.
He pleaded for quick response as they had submitted lists of traders to the necessary authorities.
“Look, I am now selling on table while trying to get my feet back. I cannot kill myself because I know God will see me and my fellow traders through.
“I lost over N10 million. I am grateful to God for being alive. There are those that lost their lives as a result of the fire outbreak.
“I want to plead with the government to assist and compensate us in any way, because most of us are going through a lot,” Eze said.
Another trader, a widow, Mrs Martha Ameh, noted that the fire incident gave her a shock that she was still battling to recover from.
Ameh, who hawked water and drinks, said her shop of over a million worth of drinks was razed by the fire.
“I am still trying to recover from the whole incident; because it was not long I secured a shop in this market.
“I was hospitalised for one week due to the shock and my blood pressure went high. I just decided to start hawking with help from good neighbors so I can feed my children,” Ameh added.
Mrs Ruth Agi, a yam seller said the authorities asked them to move to International Market, Mararaba, adding that they could not afford shops there.
She said that even the “International market” is empty because traders do not make sales there.
Mr Shedrach Ahmed, a foodstuff seller said he lost over N10 million worth of goods to the fire incident.
Ahmed, who now sells rolls of spices and grains in bits, added that though he was dealing with the items in bags before now, stressing that he would come back strong soon.
He said “staying at home will only worsen my pains and leave me thinking, it is better I start all over and pray such does not happen again.”
Ahmed urged the government to be proactive and find a lasting solution to such misfortune.
Azeez Abdullahi, a butcher, said he was grateful to God for life, but urged the government to put an end to fire outbreaks in markets.
While making reference to Karu market in FCT, which was razed down by fire in 2024, said quick measures should be put in place to curb this for the betterment of traders.
Mr Musa Hakim, a trader, said he had not been able to meet his needs and demands since the fire incident.
“Since the fire incident I haven’t been able to meet my needs and demands, I had a lot of customers’ goods in the shop which got burnt too,’’ he said.
Other traders including Mrs Nkechi Jonah, Mr Ayomide Linus and Mrs Peace Oke, , said government’s lack of support had made life very difficult for them.
“We are still paying taxes even though we have lost everything, and it’s not fair,”
“All we can do is use empty sack bags to create a shade to enable us sell.
We need help; we should not be neglected like this. Something should be done,” he said. (NAN)
