.As Plateau government pledges support to affected traders
The inability of Plateau State Fire Service to respond promptly to a night fire at the Jos Main Market, popularly known as Terminus Market, has been attributed to faulty trucks. This is blamed for the destruction of about 500 shops, as confirmed by the chairman of the market during a press briefing on Wednesday morning.
BusinessDay reported that a devastating fire outbreak engulfed the popular Terminus Market in Jos, Plateau State, around 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday, destroying property worth millions of naira.
The inferno, which caught many traders unawares, raged through the night, reducing numerous stalls and goods to ashes. Mustapha Ibrahim, chairman of the Jos Main Market Traders Association, told journalists that the fire started at 11pm of Tuesday night and was initially manageable but quickly spread due to the delay in response.
“When we arrived at the fire service station, there were only two trucks, and both had no tyres. We had to start calling frantically for help,” he said.
According to him, it took the intervention of a fire truck from Jos South to begin any form of firefighting, by which time the fire had intensified and about 500 shops razed.
“They tried their best to control the fire, but it had already spread,” Ibrahim said.
When asked about the cause of the fire, Ibrahim said traders suspected a power surge from the electricity supply by NEPA, now known as the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED). Addressing the press shortly after inspecting the incidence, Joy Ramnap, Plateau State commissioner for information, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and commended the efforts of the traders and security personnel who tried to contain the situation.
She also appealed for calm, urging residents of Plateau State to avoid politicising the tragedy or spreading inflammatory remarks. “Let us not add to the pains of the people. Every government seeks peace and prosperity, not suffering. We will get through this trying time together,” the commissioner said, adding that the state will support recovery efforts as investigations continue.
Plateau government pledges support to affected traders
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ramnap, on behalf of the state government, described the incident as a significant blow to the state’s economic hub.
She conveyed the government’s heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families, assuring them that the state stands in solidarity with them during this difficult time.
While commending the efforts of the fire service and volunteers who worked tirelessly to contain the blaze, she called on all market stakeholders to prioritise safety and take proactive measures to prevent similar disasters in the future.
Ramnap urged affected traders to remain calm and continue to uphold peace in the state, despite the hardship they may be experiencing as a result of the inferno. She emphasized that the Mutfwang-led administration is committed to supporting those impacted and will take steps to ease their burden.
According to the commissioner, Governor Caleb Mutfwang has already mobilised a team to investigate the cause of the fire in a bid to forestall future occurrences and ensure the safety of marketplaces across the state.
