Lagos nabs 15 minors, others over street begging

Flags-off fire preventive campaign

The Lagos State Environmental Task force has arrested 27 persons, including 15 minors involved in the unlawful act of street begging in the middle of vehicular traffic/hold-ups.

They were arrested by the task force during its raid operation against persons constituting public nuisance across the metropolis. Major routes raided include; Awolowo Way up to Falomo roundabout, Ikoyi and Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, along Lekki road.  
 

Speaking at the flag-off campaign in Jankara market, Lagos, the Director General Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, stressed the need for traders in the market to be safety conscious and be mindful of their environment to prevent fire disasters.
 
Mojola who acknowledged that most markets in the state are complying with the state government directives on safety said that the enlightenment must continue to reduce the incidents to the barest minimum.
 
He said: “Today’s enlightenment campaign is about fire safety and you are all aware that the harmattan season has come and harmattan comes with extra risks when it comes to fire. It is very dry and there is a higher chance that we would have a fire.”

“So the message is that they should be careful when carrying out their activities. Carelessness is a big issue because carelessness and human errors are the main causes of fire incidents.”

Mojola maintained that besides, the campaign teams are talking to traders about the importance of keeping safe and for them to adhere to all the safety rules and do away with all the highlighted activities that can trigger hazards in the markets such as smoking, use of cooking stoves and selling of petrol in the markets.

Also, the Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye said the campaign was about educating the general public, particularly the traders in the markets to understand the market fire safety tips.

Adeseye mentioned that in the past years, the state recorded a large number of fire incidents in the marketplaces, stressing that, 75 per cent of the fire outbreaks were a result of carelessness, and that prompted the move to sensitise traders towards preventing loss of lives and property through avoidable fire incidents.
 
Chairman, Wrist Watch Sellers Association, Jankara Market, Abdul Rahman Yusuf, appreciated the state government through the Safety Commission and Fire Service for consistently bringing advocacy campaigns to the market towards prevention of fire incidents.
 
Yusuf expressed strong support for government policies aimed at preventing fire in the marketplaces while reassuring that traders in the markets will continue to comply with all the safety preventive measures at all times.
 
Aside from the Jankara market, the advocacy team will also visit Balogun, Dosunmu Ereko, Saabo, and Mile 12 markets. Others are Ojuwoye, Tejuosho, Boundary Alaba International, Iyana Iba, and Okokomaiko markets.