From Magnus Eze, Enugu
The member of House of Representatives for Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Prof. Paul Nnamchi has pledged to intervene in the physical restructuring and improvement of infrastructure such as roads and power in Ugbo-Oghe, an Abakpa slum settlement in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu state.
Nnamchi made the pledge when he alongside his Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency counterpart, Sunday Umeha, visited former occupants of No 8 Akpugo Street, Ugbo-Oghe, where fire gutted a bungalow inhabited by over 50 residents with two persons sustaining burns, over the weekend.
Eyewitness said the property went up in flames last month following power surge that reportedly started from the ceiling of the house in an afternoon but emergency agencies could not do much, largely due to the inaccessibility of the property in the slum.
Nnamchi described the inferno as carnage, but thanked God that no life was lost except properties which he said that are no measure a small thing for the occupants of the building.
He said that “the bane of our national planning is that we don’t take care of our population increase, we produce kids who will also have kids tomorrow and so we need to have a long-term plan. Twenty years ago, we had fewer people living around here but today we have over 50 people living in this burnt apartment, so it’s about planning. But I also think that the federal fire service has just recruited and would be able to step up its service.
“The town planning authority should also look at it but it also involves that the community should give them support because nobody likes his property to be demolished. We need to have access for security, safety and every other thing but access is very important. This place also needs solar power and we are planning to do a bit of that soon but in some areas here, if you put a pole; it will prevent entrance of vehicles. So, in due course we’ll think along with this community to plan because they are also our own people.”
The legislator stated that the were elected to represent the people, so, whatever affected their people affected them too.
“We’re here to show them support and tell them that whatever affects them has affected us. We will also return to know how they are faring and how the community is also doing.”