By Cletus Opukeme, Warri
Following the fire disaster that destroyed a section of the Ogbe-Ijoh market in Warri, Delta State Government has promised to come up with a comprehensive work plan to enable it assist the victims.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said this when he visited the market to see the extent of damage as he sympathised with the victims of the fire disaster.
The Governor represented by his Deputy, Deacon Kingsley Burutu Otuaro said the government is concerned over the incessant fire disasters at the Ogbe-Ijoh market.
Otuaro assured them that the state government would liaise with the Warri South Council and the market leadership to properly articulate the losses incured by traders.
The Deputy Governor said the market has an original design with fire service station, police station and other facilities and the government needs to look critically into what had overtime constituted fire disasters in the market.
The State number two man expressed concern over the plight of the traders having lost all their goods as well as other properties to the inferno noting that some of the market men and women depended on their sales for their daily livelihoods.
Otuaro while describing the fire disaster as unfortunate advised the traders to be vigilant and guard against future occurrences.
” I am here to actually see for myself the level of damage and destruction that have been occasioned by the fire a few days ago. We are very much concerned as a government and we are worried because this appears not to be the first time we have had the inferno in this market. We need to look critically into what has over time constituted this perennial fire outbreak and to see what we can do”…. Otuaro stated
The Chairman of Ogbe-Ijoh Market, Comrade Godwin Eneghan while narrating the ordeal said the fire disaster occured on Sunday at about 1:30pm with several goods and other properties destroyed in the inferno noting that nothing was rescued from the market.
He said the fire disaster has made life difficult for the traders who depended on their stores to eat their daily bread.
He alleged that the fire was caused by one deaf and dumb boy who the market women always engage in the evacuation of their waste. It was alleged that the boy was cooking near a store and the fire became uncontrollable and spread to the entire market.
He appealed to the state government to as a matter of urgency complete the long abandoned Ogbe-Ijoh market which has made people resolve to building makeshift stores around the market.
Some of the traders lamented that most of them borrowed monies from cooperative societies, banks and thrift collectors and now they will not be able to pay back because of the disaster.
They appealed to the state government to assist them financially to enable them start up their businesses again.
