By: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
The rate at which fire incidence have occurred in Calabar, Cross River state capital within the past three months without putting them off, has raised a lot of great concern among residents.
It would be recalled that fire had destroyed three major buildings where traders operates in Eta Agbor, Hewitt and White House streets, leaving hundreds of million worth of goods and other items destroyed.
The recent incident occurred mid-night on Thursday August 22nd, 2024, at White House street, where two shops owned by upcoming young men lost all their goods as well as the entire building razed down to dust.
Worried by these ugly development, the umbrella body of Trader’s in Calabar as well as other affiliating bodies decided to embark on a sympathy visit to the victims of the recent fire incidence to commiserate with them, assuring them of immediate assistance to cushion the effect of their losses.
Speaking, the chairman of one of the affiliate body, Auto Spare Parts Dealers Association Calabar, Mr. Felix Odigwe, described the incessant fire incidence as worrisome.
He sympathized with victims and assured them of possible assistance to enable them start a new life
According to him, “the major aim of this solidarity/sympathy visit is to see how we can bring the state government in to see how it can intervene onbehalf of these young men financially and to let the government be on the know of what has happened to our members as well as the extent of damage the fire incidence has cost”.
He called for the quick intervention of the state government under the able leadership of Senator Prince Bassey Otu.
This intervention will go along way to reassure those doing business in Cross River state of government’s readiness to partner with Calabar Trader’s Association over the recent fire incidence affecting our members.
In his remarks, the Secretary of Calabar Trader’s Association, Mazi Chijioke Inyama (Esq), noted that the gathering was to sympathize with the victims of the fire disaster and seek for the way forward. All the affiliate bodies are fully represented in this august gathering to see for ourselves the extent of the damage.
“We have come, we have seen the devastating nature of the ugly incidence. It left nothing behind. All the goods including the building were gone. This is very devastating and worrisome, he said”.
The destruction is not what one person can carry, hence we are appealing to our dynamic governor, the People’s First mantra administration to as a matter of priority intervene in all the cases recorded within three months.
“It is so sad that this kind of thing could happen, but it is our prayer that those affected should not lose hope on God. Our brothers should take solace because they are still young and the future is bright irrespective of what they have encountered”.
Inyama prayed to God not to allow this kind of thing to happen again.
Speaking, the President of Calabar Trader’s Association, Barr. Asuquo Ita, “appreciated God for his mercy because there is nothing that happens that he doesn’t know.”
“There is hope for those who trust and believe in God, assuring them very soon they will give their testimonies”.
He described it as a huge loss to their immediate family as well as hundreds of others who had supplied them goods base on goodwill.
One of the victims, (Abuchi) described the incidence as “unfortunate” adding I don’t know what caused the fire. I and my brother lost everything in the two shops. The fire occurred in the mid night, nothing was saved. There was no sign of both state or federal fire service.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the governor on Non Indigenes Affairs Hon. Okey Maduekwe, had welcomed the leadership of the Calabar Trader’s Association and its affiliates to the scene of the fire along Bedwell by White House street in Calabar South local government area of the state.
The sad event occurred around 3am and I saw everything by myself. It was so devastating. Nothing was removed. Efforts were made to get fire fighters but to no avail, he added.
According to him, “we gathered that there were breakdown of their facilities so to say, hence they could not respond to calls”.
He said, thereafter we resorted to individual and community efforts to try to put off the fire, but the flame overwhelmed everybody.
Hon Maduekwe described the experience as a huge loss for a trader to stock his shop at this hard time, you will agree with me that millions of Naira had gone just like that.
“Most of the stocks were usually given on trust by our Importer brothers out there. Not that the traders owns such huge amount themselves, he noted”.
He expressed confidence that in no distant time, there would be succour to the victims of the fire incidents. These lost must have affected hundreds of people because out of the good will of people, they go and collect goods to stock and send their cash after sales.
Hon Maduekwe acknowledged the presence of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) as well as the Government House press corp, meaning that His Excellency Sen Bassey Otu might have been informed.
He assured that being a listening and proactive governor, in no distant time, he would send his words across.
“This is the third encounter affecting Calabar Trader’s Association members within three months leaving hundreds of people crying and in dire need for intervention.
“His Excellency had started to do something given the fact that he inherited collapsed structures which he had commenced fixing since a year ago.”
He said with these fire incidence, I know his attention will shift towards empowering and equipping the State Fire Service for efficiency and sustainability.
Hon Maduekwe commended the leadership of the traders and assured that the concern and cry for intervention will be forwarded to His Excellency Sen Bassey Otu for immediate intervention.
“He said, if fire could destroy property in this manner in rainy season, then, one would imagine what happens in the dry season”.
“On behalf of my office as Special Adviser to the governor on Non Indigenes Affairs, I sympathize with Calabar Trader’s Association over the three fire incidents recorded in the state capital recently.
He appealed to the leadership not to abandon them in the middle of the forest but think of a soft landing to provide them with succour.
The second victim Mr.Paul had earlier narrated how the incidence occurred in the early hours of Thursday August 22, 2024 and attempt to get the fire fighting personnel to put off the fire.
“We lost everything in the shops. We are empty and confused. We shall appreciate whatever form of assistance from this body as well as from the state government.”
The sympathy visit was witnessed by the Nigeria Labour Congress representative in the capacity of the Publicity secretary onbehalf of the state chairman.
The venue was filled by too many sympathisers under the early hours shower of rain along White House by Bedwell street.
