Lagos Government Rolls Out Market Safety Marshals to Ensure Public Safety

The Lagos State Government has officially inaugurated Safety and Emergency Marshals, urging collective efforts to achieve a zero fire incident goal in the state’s marketplaces. Speaking at the event held at Obanikoro Market, Lagos Island, Mr. Lanre Mojola, Director of the Lagos State Safety Commission, emphasized the urgent need for market representatives who would oversee emergency preparedness to prevent fire disasters.

Mojola explained that the training program aims to equip market participants with the skills to identify hazards, prevent incidents, and effectively respond to emergencies. He recalled past fire disasters that resulted in financial compensation for victims and significant insurance costs, prompting the Safety Commission to recalibrate its approach by continuously sensitizing market residents and training them on hazard identification.

“Safety is a collective responsibility,” Mojola stated. “Today, we have gathered 50 market vendors who are being trained as the first set of Market Safety Fire Wardens. Our goal is to enlighten them to prevent fire disasters by teaching them about the causes of fire, proper handling of electrical equipment, and the importance of fire extinguishers.”

In addition to fire safety, Mojola noted other risks such as unsafe wiring and flying cables within markets. The initiative aims for a holistic approach to creating safer, more sustainable markets, free from fire incidents in the future.

The delay in establishing the safety team for Lagos Island Market was attributed to ensuring that the model was perfected. According to Mojola, involving local stakeholders such as Community Development Associations (CDA), Community Development Committees (CDC), and market leaders was crucial for the success of the initiative.

“We’ve worked on smaller markets across the state, but the delay for Lagos Island was to ensure we had the right model in place. Now, with input from local leaders, we’ve applied a top-down and bottom-up approach,” Mojola added. “These Safety Marshals will serve as whistleblowers and regulators, helping to identify violations like smoking, cooking, and improper generator use.”

Mr. Seun Awojobi, Technical Adviser for the Lagos Safety Commission, stressed the importance of markets to the state’s economic growth, highlighting their vulnerability to risks like fire and accidents. Speaking through Mrs. Omowunimi Ibraheem, Awojobi assured that the program would foster a strong safety culture, ensuring a safer Lagos.

Mr. Adeyinka Adebiyi, a training facilitator, detailed the hazards within markets and the safety principles needed to mitigate them. He encouraged the newly inaugurated Safety Marshals to monitor market activities, ensuring compliance with safety standards, such as switching off electric sockets when leaving.

Mr. Sunday Ogunlana, Chairman of the Community Development Association (CDA), and Mr. Lateef Iyaniwura, leader of Obanikoro Market, both commended the state government’s initiative, affirming that this program would significantly reduce fire risks and improve safety across Lagos’ markets.