Effects of Safety Measures against Bomb Blasts in Kado Market of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria

Abstract

Bomb blast in public places such as markets has been leading to the loss of lives and destruction of valuable properties in the northern part and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria. Hence, this problem brought a need for a research to be made in Kado market, since it is located in the FCT of Nigeria. The aim of the study is to determine the safety measures against bomb blasts in Kado market in Abuja, in order to provide policy recommendations to improve security in the FCT markets of Nigeria. The instruments that were used to collect the primary research data are the questionnaires administered to the 71 sales people and 71 buyers in the market via random sampling method in conjunction with focus group discussion that were made up of five sales people in 10 different groups. They are also the discussions that were made with the management staff of the market in conjunction with direct observation schedule. Secondary data were obtained from the reviews of materials that are relevant to this research. Tables and photographs were used as tools for the analysis of research data. Among the findings are: appropriate check against bomb blasts is poor in the market due to the lack of defined car parking spaces and this is leading to the indiscriminate parking of cars in any available space; the market has no patrol team to check for the activities of bombers that may arise within the market. Among the recommended guidelines are: markets should have defined car parking spaces to reduce indiscriminate parking of cars in any available space, in order to allow appropriate check against bomb blasts; market patrol team should be provided by the management authorities of markets, in order to check for activities of bombers that may arise within the markets.