By Olugbenga Salami
The Senate on Wednesday called for Federal Government’s intervention following the devastating fire outbreak at the Head Bridge Building Materials Market in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Specifically, it urged the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the damage and provide immediate relief materials to affected traders.
The upper legislative chamber also called on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, in collaboration with relevant agencies, to design and implement a special intervention fund to help victims rebuild their businesses and restore the market.
The resolutions followed a motion of urgent matter of national importance on the Onitsha fire incident sponsored by the Senate Minority Whip, Senator Tony Nwoye, (ADC Anambra North) during plenary.
Presenting the motion, Nwoye recalled the tragic incident in March when a section of the market dealing in plastics, tiles, and high‑pressure pipes went up in flames.
“According to eyewitness accounts, the fire spread rapidly to adjoining sections, fueled by highly flammable materials,” he said.
He noted that the market is one of the largest hubs for building materials in the South‑East, making the incident particularly significant for regional commerce and supply chains.
Nwoye observed that the inferno raged for over three days before it was contained through the combined efforts of the Federal Fire Service, local authorities, and emergency responders from neighbouring areas.
He expressed concern that the absence of functional fire service stations and inadequate firefighting infrastructure worsened the scale of destruction.
“Goods and property worth over ₦3 billion were lost in the incident, including industrial pipes, plumbing materials and other essential building supplies,” he said.
The lawmaker also decried the impact on traders, many of whom rely solely on the market for their livelihoods, noting that the disaster has left victims economically stranded and emotionally distressed, with potential ripple effects on economic activities in the region.
The Senate, in its further resolutions, urged the Federal Fire Service to establish and adequately equip a functional fire station within or near the market to ensure prompt response to emergencies.
Similarly, it called on the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON and other regulatory bodies to enforce strict compliance with fire safety standards in markets and commercial centres nationwide.
The Senate also encouraged the Anambra State Government, in collaboration with market authorities, to develop and enforce effective emergency response mechanisms to prevent future occurrences.
It mandated its Committees on Interior, Trade and Investment to investigate the incident, identify lapses, and recommend measures to forestall similar outbreaks.
