A section of the popular Nkpor main market in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria, near the commercial city of Onitsha, was engulfed in flames, resulting in the destruction of goods worth over N300 million. The fire, which started around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, consumed over 30 shops before traders rallied to extinguish it at dawn.
Confirming the incident, the chairman of the market, Chief Paul Okafor, stated that the fire originated in a cold room shop and quickly spread to adjacent shops. Okafor, whose wine shop was also affected, listed the items in the affected shops, including paints, curtains, gum, shoe leathers, shoe polish, wines, hot drinks, and thinners. While the final estimation of the total goods damaged is yet to be determined, Okafor provided a rough estimate of the value at not less than N300 million.
Despite calls to relevant institutions, the community had to mobilise to combat the fire. Okafor urged the state government to station fire-fighting vehicles under the flyover bridge at Nkpor main market to serve the three major markets in the vicinity. He also called on the state and local governments, as well as public-spirited individuals and groups, to assist the affected traders in their recovery efforts.
Sympathising with the traders, Chief Jude Nwankwo, a patron of the Anambra Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA) and President of the Building Materials Traders Association, expressed heartfelt sympathy for the victims. He called on the government and various groups to provide assistance and suggested that market leaders equip their markets with fire extinguishers to mitigate the effects of fire disasters, especially at night.