Obi Sympathises With Traders After Kugbo Market Fire

Former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has renewed his call for comprehensive reforms of Nigeria’s emergency response architecture following a visit to the Kugbo Furniture Market in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), where traders recently suffered massive losses due to a devastating fire outbreak.

In a statement shared on his verified social media page, Obi disclosed that the visit took place on January 20 in Abuja, as part of a series of important engagements. He said he went to the market to personally commiserate with traders whose shops and goods worth millions of naira were destroyed in the inferno.

Describing the losses as especially painful against the backdrop of worsening economic hardship and rising poverty across the country, Obi said the affected traders narrated their experiences and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“At a time when many Nigerians are grappling with deepening hardship and poverty, such losses are especially painful,” he stated.

Despite the setback, Obi praised the traders for their resilience and expressed confidence in their ability to recover with the right support. He reassured them that the tragedy would not define their future, noting that small and medium-scale enterprises remain critical to Nigeria’s economic survival.

The former governor used the occasion to once again highlight what he described as the urgent need for a functional and well-coordinated emergency response system in Nigeria, stressing that many tragedies could be prevented with timely and efficient intervention.

“A nation that truly cares for its people must invest in efficient, well-coordinated emergency services that respond promptly and effectively to crises, saving lives and livelihoods,” Obi said.

He added that preventable disasters such as market fires continue to expose institutional weaknesses and the cost of poor preparedness.

Obi was accompanied on the visit by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Chairmanship candidate for AMAC, Dr. Moses Paul, as part of ongoing political engagements ahead of the February 21, 2026 council elections.

He concluded by reiterating his vision for a Nigeria where institutions work effectively for the people and where preventable tragedies are indeed prevented.

“We must work towards a Nigeria where institutions function as they should for the benefit of all,” he said.