Goods worth N21 million have been destroyed following a fire outbreak that gutted 39 shops and furniture at the Kugbo Furniture Market, Abuja in the early hours of Monday.
Some of the affected furniture makers and shop owners at the market told journalists that they were alerted at about 12 midnight by the security guards on duty and informed about the incident.
According to Chairman of the Furniture Market, Austin Onuh who is also a victim, the incident occurred late in the night when all the shop owners had closed, regretting that most of the furniture burnt were given to them on contract by their customers.
“We are yet to determine the cause of the inferno but furniture worth over N 21 million naira have been burnt by the fire.
“Some of us here just returned from Christmas and new year celebrations, and started work that our customers gave us, but this morning we only came to see ashes” Onuh lamented.
He however appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration, public spirited individuals and corporate organisations to support them.
The Kugbo Furniture Market Chairman also called on the government to help the furniture makers provide measures that will prevent fire outbreaks in the market.
Timothy Eze, one of the affected furniture makers said he has lost not less than N 8 million worth of furniture in his shop, noting that part from the furniture, industrial machine, generators with several working equipment that worth millions were also burnt”
Another victim, Vincent Ngutsen said over N 7 million finished and unfinished furniture were burnt in his shop, despite efforts by the people around the area and the fire fighters.
James Kwen, Abuja
