ABSTRACT
Nigeria has been facing the problem of frequent fire outbreaks in market places. This problem has led to the substantial loss of valuable goods, properties and human lives. Hence, it brought a need for the evaluation of fire prevention and protection measures put in market places with the aim of generating additional guidelines to improve the National Fire Safety Code of Nigeria with respect to market design. The population of this research was the seven regional built-up markets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of  Nigeria that  are under the control  of  the FCT Markets  Management Committee. Thus, Wuse market, Garki model market and Kado market were selected from the research population for study by using purposive sampling method. There are 2,091, 1,430 and 353 sales points in Wuse market, Garki model market and Kado market respectively. Hence, by applying systematic sampling method at every 5th interval, 419, 287 and 71 sales points were studied in Wuse market, Garki model market and Kado market respectively. Consequently, primary research data were generated from the direct observations of the conditions of the three selected markets, and the total number of 777 questionnaires administered to the sales people in the markets. Likewise, they were generated from the discussions with the sales people, and staff of the FCT Markets Operating Bodies such as the Federal Fire Service of Nigeria, National Association of Nigerian Traders and the managing company of the selected markets. Also, interview questions were administered to the FCT Markets Operating Bodies, in order to generate the primary data. Secondary research data were obtained from the reviews of relevant literature on fire outbreaks in markets; other public buildings in and outside Nigeria. Parametric statistical and content analysis techniques were used to analyse the data, and the results of the analyses were accepted via normality test. The results of the research showed that among the changes made by the users that cause the fast spread of fire in the markets is fixing of canopies in between the roofs of two or more buildings as sun shading devices by the sales people. The major factors attributed to the changes made by the users that cause fast spread of fire in the markets are from electricity related issues such as indiscriminate use of personal electricity generators. The design of all the markets against fire outbreaks were poor such that there are some buildings in the markets without front verandahs or corridors for mounting fire extinguishers or other mountable fire protection devices on their inner walls. Moreover, it was revealed that the current 2013 edition of the National Fire Safety Code of Nigeria (NFSCN) is not adequate for Nigeria because it is not well enforced in terms of passive fire prevention and protection measures. Thus, among the generated additional guidelines for designing markets to improve the NFSCN are: all the floors of lock-up shops in markets must be designed to have front verandahs/corridors, in order to reduce the use of canopy roofs as sun shading devices for sit out areas.  All the market sites must have main fire resistant generator houses, in order to reduce the indiscriminate use of personal electricity generators. Among the recommendations is that the current 2013 edition of the NFSCN should be reviewed to adequately focus on passive fire prevention and protection measures.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Research
Markets are authorised sites and public places where people meet for trade or where goods and services are exchanged for money; they are places where people buy their basic needs in retails and as well as in wholesales (Chabbi-Chemrouk, 2007; Jikun and Scott, 2003; Lipsey, 1963; Ngugi, 2015). In Africa, markets vary in terms of sizes, modes and qualities of constructions, facilities and physical maintenances (Ikelegbe, 2005; Mbisso, 2011). According to Ngugi (2015), uncontrolled market development where sales people build markets at any empty space is as a result of underemployment or unemployment which lead the majority of the urban population to look at markets for honest living. The expansion of markets is inevitable because of the increased needs of sales people and the supporting infrastructure require more spaces for trades.
Trading is among the well-known occupations of people in the informal sector of economy of cities/towns in Nigeria (Ogeah and Omofonmwan, 2013). It is comprised of the sales people and buyers who operate in markets in urban areas. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria is the study area and according to the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) of Nigeria, different markets for trades were established in the FCT due to its population increase (FCDA, 2016). According to Federal Fire Service of Nigeria (FFSN), National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANT) and other scholars, as more markets are established in Nigeria, different problems arise from their establishments and these include fire outbreaks, stealing, fraud, human congestions, quarrels and disputes, inadequate supply of water and electricity, inadequate toilet facilities, dilapidated market structures, substandard buildings, and the activities of hawkers and open space traders that do not conform with the standard market operations (Achumba et al., 2013; FFSN, 2016; Gidipoint, 2015; NANT, 2014 and 2016; Olayinka, 2016; Terkula et al., 2016). Among these problems, it has been established over the years that on regular basis, outbreaks of market fires in different parts of the country have been leading to the destruction of substantial goods, properties and human lives (FFSN, 2016; NANT, 2016).
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Science Learning Hub (SLH) defined fire as the process of burning with different visible effects (NFPA, 2016; SLH, 2009). Glossary of Wild Land Fire Terminology (GWLFT) and NFPA further defined it as a chemical process of a very quick oxidation which releases sound, light and heat as products (GWLFT, 2009; NFPA, 2016). Among the destruction agents across the globe is fire (Bond and Van, 1996; Parminter, 2015; Sugita et al., 1997; Willy et al., 2000). In Africa, particularly Nigeria, markets are very prone to the outbreak of fires (Ogeah and Omofonmwan, 2013); therefore, it became important that fire is treated with care specifically in Nigerian markets.
Fire hazards have negative effects on people and societies because of the damaged buildings that result to the removal of businesses and thereby negatively affecting the tax rolls of government. Statistics showed that more than 40 percent of market activities that experienced outbreak of fire did not re-open due to the loss of customers’ bases (Stookey, 2010). The country faces the challenges of property and income losses, deaths and injuries at a significant rate as indicated by a recap of 2014 Fire Loss Statistics of United States (Hylton, 2015). Therefore, it became essential that markets are well prevented and protected from fire outbreaks not just only in United States but also in Africa and particularly in Nigeria.
Prevention and protection measures against fire in building are safety plans to make sure that the fire risks are reduced through appropriate architectural design, the use of fire protection devices and fire drills for building occupants. Scholars suchlike Building Department (BDE) and Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG) established that there is a necessity for safety with respect to fire in building designs (BDE, 2011; Iyaji et al., 2016 and WBDG, 2017). Life Safety Services (LSS) and other scholars stated that safety in buildings with respect to fire can be obtained via passive and active prevention and protection measures against fire (Anderberg, 2011; LSS, 2015; Stuart, 2017). Passive and active prevention and protection measures against fire in buildings assist to reduce fire disasters. Department for International Development (DID) and other scholars revealed that frequent disasters of fire in market places are not just occurrences but they have diverse and devastating consequences (Addai et al., 2016; DID, 2005). Therefore, it became crucial to take steps to reduce them through preventive and protective measures, in order to reduce their further impacts such as loss of goods, properties and human lives (Alhaji, 2014). As a result of this importance, protection/prevention measures against market fires in the territory of Nigerian capital were studied.
1.2 Statement of Research Problem
A good market is supposed to have an adequate protection against the outbreaks of fire, so as to save human lives, properties and goods (Leo, 2014; Oladokun and Emmanuel, 2014). According to the International Fire Code (IFC), protection equipment against
fire are supposed to have a frequent maintenance in good conditions, so that they can be fit for maximum protection (IFC, 2006 and 2012). Hence, Seattle Government (SEG) and a scholar stated that by preparing against fire outbreaks in buildings, properties and lives can be saved (Alhaji, 2014; SEG, 2016). Globally, advancement of technologies in fire safety exist for the facilities of industries and commerce (Menon and Vakil, 2016). However, frequent outbreaks of market fires in Nigeria is a challenge that have resulted to human live losses and the loss of valuable properties and goods. There is no year without fire outbreaks in Nigerian markets (NANT, 2016). For example, between January, 2015 and March, 2016, fire outbreaks in Nigerian markets claimed goods and properties that worth over 5.3 trillion Naira and 600 human lives (FFSN, 2016).
Literature shows that the National Fire Safety Code of Nigeria (NFSCN) lacks well enforcement to effectively reduce the frequent fire outbreaks in Nigerian markets despite the engagement of different building professional bodies in its preparation (NFSCN, 2013). According to acknowledgement page of the NFSCN, Nigerian Institute of Architects, Architects Registration Council of Nigeria, Department of Architectural Services in Nigerian Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and other bodies of Nigerian building professionals were engaged in the preparation of the 2013 (first) edition of the NFSCN that is currently in use. Yet, it gives little consideration to the use of building design for reducing outbreaks of fire and the spread of fires in buildings (passive prevention and protection measures against fire) in just five pages with fire resistance constructions in only seven pages which are building engineering aspect, and this is a serious weakness.
In addition, the NFSCN was approved in 2013 by the Federal Government of Nigeria (NFSCN, 2013). From the preface page of the 2013 edition of the NFSCN, the Fire Code is subject to review every three years, in order to reduce fire outbreaks and their negative resultant effects in the country. This implies that since the first edition of the NFSCN was approved in 2013, it was supposed to be reviewed in 2016, in order to minimise outbreaks of fire in buildings in the markets and other buildings in the country. However, since 2013 that the NFSCN was approved, no revision has been made on it despite frequent fire outbreaks in Nigerian markets (FFSN, 2016; NANT,
2016). Therefore, it became important to propose additional guidelines for market design against fires by conducting a research on existing markets before the establishment of the 2013 NFSCN with regards to prevention and protection measures against market fires in the FCT of Nigeria from an architectural perspective, so as to improve the NFSCN. These will reduce the frequent loss of human lives, valuable properties and goods. These will also reduce other negative implications of outbreaks of fire in all parts of the country.
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of this study is to evaluate the fire prevention and protection measures put in market places in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria, in order to generate additional guidelines to improve the National Fire Safety Code of Nigeria with respect to market design.
The objectives of this study are:
i. To identify the changes made by the users that could cause fast spread of market fires in the FCT of Nigeria.
ii. To examine the passive and active fire prevention and protection measures put in market places in the FCT of Nigeria.
iii. To determine the adequacy of the National Fire Safety Code of Nigeria for fire safety in the design of markets in the FCT of Nigeria.
iv. To propose additional guidelines that can improve market design against fire outbreaks in Nigeria.
1.4 Research Questions
The research questions are:
i. What are the changes made by the users that could cause fast spread of market fires in the FCT of Nigeria?
ii. What passive and active fire prevention and protection measures put in market places in the FCT of Nigeria?
iii. How adequate is the National Fire Safety Code of Nigeria for fire safety in the design of markets in the FCT of Nigeria?
iv. What additional guidelines can be proposed to improve market design against fire outbreaks in Nigeria?
1.5 Scope of the Research
Different researchers have given market classifications on the basis of diverse factors such as time, competition, function, location, legality, transactions, regulation, volume of business, nature of commodity, demand and supply (Gaurav, 2010; Manoj, 2015). Classifications of markets have been grouped into three forms on the basis of location. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and other scholars, they are built-up or closed market type, open-air market type and street market type (Amiteye, 2015; Bromley, 1998; FAO, 1995).
Likewise, on the basis of location, Ngugi (2015) gave market classifications as street market type and regional market type, in which regional market types are open-air market types and built-up market types. Integrating the immediate market classifications on the basis of location, markets can be grouped into regional open-air market type, regional built-up market type and street market type. In this scenario, regional built-up market type is a type of market in a specific region or location which comprised of diverse business buildings such as restaurants, open stalls, lock-up shops and other market features (Amiteye, 2015; Ngugi, 2015). Hence, the scope of this research was the three regional built-up market type in the territory of Nigerian Capital.
In Nigeria, regional built-up market types are also known as the urban-markets and they are majorly located in the urban places. According to Ogeah and Omofonmwan (2013), Nigerian urban-markets are very prone to outbreaks of fire and the market users suffer the losses severely. Likewise, in Nigeria, regional built-up market types are very prone to outbreaks of fire and they have resulted to the loss of many human lives; destruction of properties and goods that are valued up to trillions of Nigerian Naira (FFSN, 2016). Since regional built-up market types in Nigeria are very prone to outbreaks of fire, it became necessary that they are studied, in order to find a way to reduce the occurrences of fires. Three regional built-up markets in the FCT of Nigeria were studied; they are Wuse market, Garki model market and Kado market.
1.6 Study Area
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria was selected as the research area due to the outbreaks of fire that are always occurring in different market places in the area as revealed by Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) and the Federal Fire Service of Nigeria (AMML, 2018; FFSN, 2003, 2013, 2014 and 2015). Another rationale for chosen the FCT of Nigeria as the domain of this study is owing to the fact that the management authority of the markets that were studied (AMML) is a more organised management authority of Nigerian markets among others (AMML, 2016; FCDA, 2016). Thus, it became important that markets in the FCT of Nigeria are studied, so that appropriate research data can be gotten from this organised markets management authority in the FCT of Nigeria owing to the fact that the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the FCT of Nigeria where this research was conducted is a purpose-built city among other few cities in Africa and it is the capital city of the country (Murray, 2007; Nnodim, 2011).
Figure 1.1 shows the Nigerian map revealing the FCT location in the central part of Nigeria; it also shows the locations of other states in Nigeria. The capital city of Nigeria is Abuja and it is situated in this territory. Figure 1.2 shows that the FCT of Nigeria has boundaries with Kogi State of Nigeria to its south-west area, Nasarawa State of Nigeria to its south and east area, Kaduna State of Nigeria to its north-east area, and Niger State of Nigeria to its north-west area. According to the National Population Commission of Nigeria (NPCN), FCT of Nigeria has a landmass of 7,753.85 kilometres square (NPCN, 2010). Moreover, Figure 1.2 reveals that the FCT of Nigeria is presently comprised of six local councils which are the Municipal Area Council of Abuja (city of Abuja), Kuje, Kwali, Bwari, Abaji and Gwagwalada.
Figure 1.1: Nigeria showing 36 states with FCT highlighted. Source: Research gate, 2016
-of-Nigeria-showing-the-Nigerian-Frontier-Inland-Sedimentary-Basins-NFISB).
Figure 1.2: Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. Source: Satellite city google maps,.
Figure 1.3 reveals the map of Municipal Area Council of Abuja. The three markets that
were studied are situated in the Municipal Area Council of Abuja. Wuse market is
situated in the district of Wuse Zone 5 of AMAC; Garki model market is found in the
district of Garki in AMAC, and Kado market is found in the district of Gwarimpa in AMAC.
1.7 Research Justification
Several researches have been conducted on the outbreaks of market fire in Nigeria and diverse associated issues have been revealed. For example, when there are outbreaks of fire in markets in Nigeria, in most cases, the FFSN often arrives late to the places of incidence and usually comes with inadequate firefighting equipment to fight them (Ogeah and Omofonmwan, 2013). This denotes that when there are outbreaks of market fire in Nigeria, the problem of combatting them exist. Lekan (2015) found out that different renewal schemes in urban areas have been existing, so as to minimise outbreaks of fire in Nigeria and other associated problems by the Nigerian government. These include campaigns of enlightenment, relocation of areas of settlement from markets and impermanent markets closure with high threat of fires. Unfortunately, these interventions only come after fire outbreaks in markets, and in many cases people hardly respond positively to these programmes. It was outlined that it is important to acquire a proactive perspective towards a better management of fire safety to be merged into the general management of the built environment in the country.
Researchers have identified some causes of outbreaks of market fires in Nigeria. It was stated by Mann (2010) that what causes outbreaks of market fires in Nigeria are the use of gas cylinders, stoves, cookers, lighted match, careless disposal of the stubs or ends of cigarette, sparks, illegally connected electricity, unstable electric power and adulterated fuel. Also, Olaiya (2013) found out that outbreaks of fire in Nigerian markets are majorly connected to faults from electricity. Gbenga (2014), pointed out that fire outbreaks are accidents; whether they are viewed from the perspective of human error, situational or environmental factors, they are however preventable in most cases. The researcher further pointed out that about 70% of incidents of fire in Nigerian markets are connected to the faults from electricity. Hence, with this reason, measures for safety should be among the considerations during the stages of both design and construction and not after markets have been built before alternative arrangements will be considered, so as to ensure the safety of people and the entire markets.
Considering outbreaks of fire in Nigerian public buildings in which regional built-up markets are inclusive, Abdulhamid and Ibrahim (2011) revealed that the occurrences of fire outbreaks are more in office places and markets. Abdulwahab et al. (2012) found that the causes of outbreaks of fire perculiar to public buildings are spill of chemicals; too much reliance in making use of appliances like electrical power boards, computers, electrical lamps, heaters; other electrical equipment. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that in addition to the loss of properties and human lives due to fire outbreaks in public places, the indirect fiscal loses are incalculable due to the resultant unemployment, reduced property values and lost business incomes (NEMA, 2013). It was established that there is no pattern for the occurrence of fire. However, it has been shown that in Nigeria, fire outbreaks in public buildings and the intensity of damages; loses from them are more during the harmattan season which is the period between November of a particular year to March of the following year. The research conducted by Makanjuola et al. (2016) revealed that issues of outbreaks of fire in public buildings are connected to accident, arson and carelessness.
From these researches on the fire outbreaks in Nigerian markets made by the above mentioned researchers, different causes and other issues of fires were pointed out and discussed but there is a gap in knowledge. This gap is the lack of study of the weakness of the National Fire Safety Code of Nigeria with respect to passive and active prevention and protection measures against market fires, in order to propose additional guidelines that can minimise fire outbreaks or the spread of fires in Nigerian markets. Therefore, it became vital that this gap is filled through the evaluation of protection/prevention measures against outbreaks of market fires in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria.
1.8 Benefits of the Research
Benefits of the research are gains or significance of the research (Christopher and Braden, 2013; Fred et al., 2009; Khazragui and Hudson, 2015; Luke, 2015). The architects, Nigerian government, academia; the general public have benefitted from this study.
1.8.1 Benefit for the architects
It is necessary to check buildings, in order to assess their performances, learn and make use of the knowledge acquired to improve in the subsequent maintenance, design and construction of buildings, so as to have a better and desired living environment (Adrian et al., 2010; Ardavan and Ryan, 2015; Hay et al., 2017; Rosi and Behzad, 2017; Zubairu, 2012). In the same scenario with this immediate statement, this research has generated additional solutions for architects in designing buildings, so as to curtail incidences of market fires in Nigeria.
1.8.2 Benefit for the government of Nigeria
This research has created additional guidelines for market design against fire for all the local governments in Nigeria. This is because according to the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANT) and Nigerian Constitution (NCO), it is the responsibility of the local governments in Nigeria to establish, regulate and maintain all the markets within its area as stated in the Functions of a Local Government Council under the Fourth Schedule in the Nigerian Constitution (NANT, 2016; NCO, 1999). These additional guidelines have improved the NFSCN. In greater dimension, they will help to reduce fire outbreaks with their negative implications on the lives of people, goods, market buildings; other market properties and the entire economy of Nigeria.
1.8.3 Benefit for the Academia
Feedback and evaluation are very important for continuous improvements in the design of buildings (Faris, 2017; Hay et al., 2017; Mundo-Hernandez et al., 2015; Reza et al., 2016; Zubairu and Olagunju, 2012). In the same scenario with this immediate statement, this research has laid a base for further studies on the evaluation of prevention and protection measures against market fires in Nigeria, so as to have improved design of markets against fire outbreaks in a continuous manner and thereby reducing subsequent negative effects of fire on Nigerian markets.
1.8.4 Benefit for the General Public
Ignorance has been identified as a significant factor that increases the occurrences of fire outbreaks in market buildings (Amoako, 2014; Murage, 2012). Poor awareness of the dangers of fires and their preventions have resulted to different outbreaks of fire in market places. Thus, this research has educated people with regards to the dangers of outbreaks of fire by passing information to them about the diverse inappropriate activities that increase outbreaks of fire and how they can be prevented in Nigerian markets.
1.9 Limitations of the Research
Library of the University of Southern California (LUSC) and other scholars stated that limitations of the research are constraints on the applications to practice and generalisation in research (LUSC, 2017; Marilyn and Jim, 2013; Price and Judy, 2004). The FCDA of Nigeria could not provide the architectural drawings of the three markets that were studied. The replied letter from the Director of Public Buildings of the FCDA and the discussion with him in respect of the request for the architectural drawings of markets revealed that the hard copies of architectural drawings of the markets were lost during the relocation of Department of Public Buildings in the FCDA from its old building to its present new building. Appendix H shows the replied letter of request for the photocopies of the architectural design of Kado market, Wuse market and Garki model market. Also, the markets were designed manually for a very long time when it was not possible to have the soft copies of architectural drawings of the markets. Thus, the research was conducted based on as built design of the markets which were also accepted to be as originally designed.
Other limitations are the issues associated with the sales people in the markets. Some sales people were very busy with their businesses and could not give adequate time for the focus group discussions as expected. Thus, this affected the required information that were gotten from the sales people in the markets via focus group discussions. In addition, there were restrictions by the sales people in providing information to the researcher and research assistants due to security problems in Nigeria; this made some of the respondents in the markets to be careful and conservative in their responses to the interview questions at the time of focus group discussions. This also affected the required information that was obtained from the focus group discussions with the sales people in the markets.
This material content is developed to serve as a GUIDE for students to conduct academic research
EVALUATION OF FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION MEASURES IN MARKETS IN THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF NIGERIA
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