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From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
The Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (ESEMA), and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Wednesday visited the Afor-Opi market in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State which was recently gutted by fire.
The fire incident Daily Sun gathered happened on July 27 when a diesel-laden tanker lost control, fell, spilt its contents, and caught fire in front of the market, destroying goods, shops, and buildings.
No life was lost, but one trader, Johnpaual Ugwuanyi who was caught in the inferno was admitted and still receiving treatment at Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka.
Mrs. Chinasa Mbah, Head of ESEMA said that they were in the market to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the fire incident as well as to commiserate with the market leaders and the traders whose goods and shops were destroyed by the fire.
She said that the agency got to know about the incident when Hon Pius Ezeugwu, Member, Representing Nsukka East Constituency at Enugu State House of Assembly visited their office and that of NEMA and Lodged complaint.
“ESEMA and NEMA are here today to see things by ourselves and conduct an on-the-spot assessment of this unfortunate fire incident that was caused by a diesel-laden tanker that fell and ignited a fire in some parts of the market.
“Our amiable governor, Peter Mbah is deeply concerned about this incident, he is waiting for our report and we are sure that you will hear from him thereafter,” she said.
Also speaking, the Zonal Coordinator of NEMA South-East, Mrs, Ngozi Echeazu, represented by Chukwu Shantel, an official of the agency expressed deep shock over the calamity and promised that the agency was going to see how it could assist the victims in their plight.
“NEMA shares in your pains, but we are grateful to God that no life was lost, we have visited Johnpaual Ugwuanyi in the hospital who was affected by the fire and we are happy that he is responding to treatment,” she said.
Mr. Linus Eze, Chairman Afor-Opi Market Traders Association who conducted ESEMA and NEMA officials around the affected market said that 120 shops, 9 buildings, and goods worth over one billion naira were destroyed in the fire incident.
He lamented that the incident have put the affected traders into an untold hardship as most of them have no other means of livelihood, even as he appealed to the government at all levels and good-spirited individuals to come to their aid.
He explained that the unfortunate incident happened when the driver of the tanker tried to dodge pot-holes on the road but lost control and the tanker fell, exploded, and went into flame.
“Please, take your findings direct to the president and the governor, we need their urgent intervention, this is too much for us to bear.
“About 120 shops and warehouses fully stocked with goods worth over 1 billion nairas were destroyed, residents and passers-by did their best to quench the fire but it was not possible.
“I am appealing on behalf of the affected traders for the intervention of the state and federal government to come to their plight with immediate deployment of relief materials as well as assistance in the rebuilding and reconstruction of the affected shops and buildings,” he said.
The market leader blamed the accident on the deplorable condition of 9th-Mile-Obollo Afor-Makurdi road which he said has forced truck drivers into diverting to the old 9th mile-Abor-Ukehe-Opi-Makurdi road along which the market is situated.
Hon. Ezeugwu who commended the ESEMA and NEMA officials for the visit, urged Enugu State and Federal Governments to fix the 9th-Mile-Obollo Afor-Makurdi and 9th mile-Abor-Ukehe-Opi-Makurdi roads which are in a deplorable condition to prevent future occurrence of such incident.
He appealed to the affected traders to exercise patience, expressing optimism that the state and Federal Government through ESEMA and NEMA will come to their aid.
