Hopes were on Tuesday restored for traders who lost their valuables in the fire disaster that razed four buildings at the Balogun market in Lagos Island on Monday, following the state government’s promise to rebuild the structure.

The state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) who was at the scene on Tuesday to assess the situation, promised to build the affected building and help traders get back again to business.

Fashola and his entourage arrived the market at about 12.30pm as thousands of traders approached and solicited his help to enable them recover their losses.

The governor described the incident as sad, but assured that government would stand by the traders and help them to get back on their businesses.

He urged market leaders to help government identify those who owned wares in the market to enable government assist them.

“We want to know what the estimate of losses is. You have to liaise with the market leaders. We will help you. This will also apply to all the plazas affected. It is impossible for us to count the number of people while we are here.

“The Commissioner for Special Duties is here, he will liaise with all the people and the plazas affected to have a clear view of the type of businesses they do and the estimate and we assure you that we help you,” Fashola said.

The governor said with what he had gathered so far, the fire might have resulted from an electrical surge, appealing to the people to beware of illegal connections, especially at this period of dry season and harmattan.

“I know there is problem with electricity, but we must be careful how we use the alternatives available to us like generators and illegal connections in order to avoid risk. I appeal to Lagosians because of the dry season we are in as there is the risk of fire. You have to stop storing inflammable materials in your homes and plazas and switch of any appliances not in use.

“Harmattan is here, just yesterday (Monday), we responded to 18 fire situations in Lagos. In November, we bought 32 fire engines, part of which were used here, we don’t want to be putting out fire, we want to prevent fire from happening. You have to be safety conscious,” he said.