Mr Johnson Frnaklin, Director General, Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), has cautioned traders against mishandling electrical appliances to prevent incidents of fire outbreaks in the markets.
Franklin gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Aba on Tuesday, saying that fire outbreaks are mostly man made.
He described fire outbreak as a cancer that sets the country’s economy backward and creates unemployment, saying it is imperative that it should be avoided.
“I think some of the fire outbreaks are man made and could be avoided, only when we begin to cultivate the spirit of safety.
“Market remain a place where many activities take place, people produce all kinds of things. It should be taken seriously to avoid things that could cause fire outbreaks.
“Ones fire outbreak happens, it consumes everything,” he said.
He said the effect of fire outbreaks to the country’s economy are endless even now that the country is grappling with economic hardship occasioned by the removal of petroleum subsidy and others.
“Fire outbreaks add to the pains and hardship being experience by the people and when a business man loses his goods to fire outbreaks he falls into debt.
“By so doing, jobs may be lost and that will also increase the rate of unemployment in the country and by extension, these are the things that put pressure on the economy.
“Let us not forget that unemployment remains the mother of hardship, insecurity and other nefarious activities by the Youths,” the Director said.
He advised traders to always find ways of handling their electrical connections to avoid triggering unnecessary fire outbreaks.
He noted that electrical connections, whether legal or ilegal, can cause fire outbreak if not well handled.
