Former Anambra State governor Peter Obi has expressed sympathy for traders and business owners affected by the early-morning fire that ravaged parts of Eda Plaza, a building-materials market in Jabi–Utako area of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.
The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate warned that recurring market disasters are eroding Nigeria’s productive capacity.
In a statement posted on X, Obi said the losses suffered by traders, artisans, workers and families went far beyond destroyed merchandise.
He described the burnt goods as the product of years of savings, borrowing, sacrifice and determination to build sustainable livelihoods.
“For many of them, what has been lost is not simply merchandise; it represents years of savings, borrowing, sacrifice, hope and the determination to build a better life”, Peter Obi said.
Obi argued that when a small business is destroyed, the consequences spread across the wider community.
Families may lose their income, children may lose educational opportunities, workers may lose their jobs and local economic activity may be disrupted.
He called on authorities to treat the Jabi fire as a warning rather than another isolated tragedy.
His central demand was for stronger emergency-response systems, particularly a fire service that is properly equipped, adequately staffed and capable of reaching emergencies quickly.
“Let us not wait for another market to burn before we act,” Obi said, urging authorities to strengthen fire prevention and response systems across Abuja and Nigeria.
The fire broke out around 2:46 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, according to separate reports. It affected several shops at the Eda Plaza, with traders reportedly scrambling to salvage their goods.
The Federal Fire Service said it deployed firefighting appliances from its Wuse, Interior and Garki stations, while FCT firefighters also joined the operation.
A Julius Berger firefighting team led by Jameel Ajan said it deployed two fire engines, two water tankers and eight firefighters.
Ajan said the blaze was brought under control after approximately four hours and warned traders against risking their lives by returning into burning buildings to retrieve belongings.
“In case of fire, evacuate the building, and don’t disturb the firefighters doing their job. This is life matters, and it is safety first”, Jameel Ajan, Julius Berger firefighting team leader.
The human and financial cost was already becoming clear. A trader’s relative told Daily Trust that one trader lost one of two shops and a packing store, while roofing materials worth more than ₦20 million were destroyed. Some of the stock had reportedly been brought in only the night before.
The witness said no life was lost, a rare relief amid the destruction. However, authorities had not released a final official casualty figure at the time of reporting.
The cause of the fire also remained unknown. Some shop owners suspected an electrical fault, but the Federal Fire Service said an investigation was under way and had not confirmed that explanation.
Obi’s intervention has placed the incident within a wider national debate about market safety, emergency preparedness and the protection of small businesses.
His argument is that development should be measured not only by the construction of public projects but also by how effectively government protects the livelihoods of citizens who trade, employ workers and sustain local communities.
As traders begin to count their losses, attention is likely to turn to the authorities for a transparent assessment of the damage, support for affected businesses, an investigation into the cause of the fire and urgent fire-safety checks in other Abuja markets.
For those affected, Obi’s message is both a condolence and a call for action: the next market disaster must be prevented, not merely mourned.