From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
The Senator representing Anambra North district, Stella Oduah has sympathized with the victims of Kano Street fire disaster near Main Market Onitsha which destroyed goods worth hundreds of million of Naira.
Oduah who lamented that just three weeks ago after a fire disaster at the chemical market at drug market (Ogbogwu) bridgehead market Onitsha, another devastating disaster occurred at Kano street close to Onitsha main market, saying that frequent fire incidents called for serious concern.
The Senator in her message to the traders said that though no life was lost but goods worth hundreds of million of Naira were destroyed at a time no trader was at the market showed that God is on the throne to save his people.
“Coming on the heels of the Ogbogwu chemical market explosion where I personally visited and saw the level of damage, last Monday’s fire incident which ravaged the popular Kano street, main market Onitsha, is one calamity too many and my heart goes out to the victims whose loss is simply unquantifiable.
“We are already working to provide some measure of succour to the affected and will continue to work with all critical stakeholders to ensure that these perennial disasters become a thing of the past.
“I believe that as we progress, we will have better market that will be conducive, safe and will have all the emergency equipments to ensure that people’s lives and goods are protected.
“We commended the quick intervention of Anambra state government through the fire service and security personnels who stopped the fire from spreading to the Main Market.
“May God bless and continue to protect our hardworking Anambra North traders and may such incidence never occur again” Oduah stated.
Also, a member representing Onitsha North and South federal constituency at House of Representatives, Hon. Lynda Chuba Ikpeazu has commiserated with the market fire victims at Kano street.
Ikpeazu who described the fire disaster as heartbreaking tragedy especially in this national economic situation and festive period called on the victims not to relent but have solace in God, the maker of life and businesses.
“While commiserating with the traders whose businesses were affected. Losing millions of naira at this point of national economic situation is a heartbreaking tragedy and I pray that the ‘never say never’ attitude of the average Igbo man and woman will help those affected as they bounce back from this tragedy, we at the Green Chambers will do our best in anyway possible to help” she assured.
Similarly, the Anambra State branch of Civil Liberty Organization (CLO) has sympathized and identity with victims of Kano street fire inferno near Onitsha Main Market.
The State Chairman of CLO Mr. Vincent Ezekwueme described the fire incident which occurred while the traders were asleep as horrendous and devastating.
“Such great loss at this period of unprecedented economic hardship and predicament is most painful, unbearable and pathetic. We call on the fire fighting service to be more proactive to their responsibilities and always keep their vehicles and fire fighting equipment in good form and functional.
“We appeal to government to device strategic marshall plans and approach towards curtailing incessant fire disaster in the state.
“We equally most passionately appeal to government, Federal Emergency Management Agency, State Emergency Management Agency, public spirited individuals and cooperate organizations, members of National Assembly and State House of Assembly from the affected area to come to the aids of the victims to ameliorate their pathetic predicament,as some of them lost everything both cash and goods” Ezekwueme appealed.