Concerned traders at Onistha in Anambra State have called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the federal government to find permanent measure towards resolving fire outbreaks across markets.
Some of the traders, Chief Dan Okeke and Madam Olikaeze, made made the call while reacting to the early morning fire incident that destroyed buildings and other multi-million naira worth goods at Kano street, beside main market, Onitsha.
Blueprint learnt that the incident occurred around 1am on Monday, but no life was lost even though several goods and buildings were razed to ashes.
“It was a terrible experience. We wake up around 1am to behold the fire. Several goods were destroyed. We reached out to the fire service in the state. But they arrived very late. Even at that, those who came couldn’t save the situation. I am calling on governor Soludo to establish a functional fire station in the market and employ more fire fighters and equip them well,” Okeke stated.
But the Anambra State Fire Chief, Mr Martin Agbili, who confirmed the fire incident, said his team received a distress call about the fire at about 2.20 am and immediately mobilised to the scene.
On what could have triggered the inferno, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Tochukwu Ikenga, reported that a preliminary information showed that it was caused by electrical upsurge from a ‘Cosmetics store in the storey building.’
Reacting to the incident, governor Soludo, through a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Mr Christian Aburime, commiserated with victims and owners of the affected shops and promised to find lasting solution to it.
“Governor Soludo expressed sadness over the incident that left shops and goods razed and the losses incurred. As a responsive government, we are already on top of the situation, investigating the remote and immediate causes of the fire, as well as the losses incurred with a view to averting a future recurrence of the disaster.
“I encourage those affected to remain strong and resolute in the face of the extreme loss as we continue to work with relevant institutions to find lasting solutions to the perennial fire incidences across the state. The Governor wishes to use this opportunity to reiterate the need for citizens to adhere to fire safety measures particularly in this season of the year,” he said.
