Association Tasks Traders On Fire Extinguishers

Shop and Distributive
Trade Senior Staff Association (SHOPDIS) on Tuesday advised traders in various markets in Nigeria to equip their shops with extinguishers to fight fire outbreaks.
The union’s General Secretary, Mr Ola Oyegoke, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen  in Lagos on incessant fire outbreaks in markets in the country.
It would be that on January  3, about 90 per cent of shops in Yola market in Adamawa were razed and property worth billions of naira lost to the incident.
Also, fire gutted Lafia Timber market in Nassarawa State; razed the popular Niger market, Ekiti Market in Ekiti and Sango Market in Ibadan among others.
Oyegoke said it was sad that people gave priority to putting fire extinguishers in cars than in shops or homes which was not a good trend.
He also urged people not to keep inflammable materials or goods in their shops to avoid disasters arising from fire.
“People should know that fire spreads more in dry season season. They should be cautious and ensure that anything that will aid fire must be prevented,’’ he said.
The union scribe described the destruction of shops and goods across the markets as a great loss to the owners, manufacturers and even to the association.
On Value Added Tax (VAT), Oyegoke said that it was part of government policy to increase VAT even if it would affect the cost of goods and services.
He advised the government to be transparent and ensure that they did the needful to meet the needs of the people, while VAT and taxes were increased.