The Federal Government has assured victims of Wednesday’s fire incident at the Ochanja Market, Onitsha in Anambra, of its support towards ameliorating their plights.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouq, gave the assurance on Friday in Onitsha when she visited the market to ascertain the level of damage.
Umar-Farouq said she was pained at the level of losses incurred by the traders as well as the damage caused by the inferno.
“We are here on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, who directed that the ministry should come and condole the government and people of Anambra, especially the Ochanja Market traders mostly affected by the fire incident.
“I came here with sadness and utmost priority. Billions of naira have been lost by this fire incident.
“I have directed the acting Director-General of NEMA to immediately send relief materials through the South East zonal office to the affected victims of the incident,” she said.
The minister, who interacted with some of the victims, further assured that the ministry would work closely with the state to see how they could prevent further occurrence.
“A joint committee made up of Federal and State governments will come later to assess the level of damage with a view to forestalling future incidents of fire outbreaks,” she noted.
According to her, part of the assessment would focus on prevention and mitigation aspect of disaster and response to forestall future occurrences.
In his remarks, Chief Primus Odili, the Chief of Staff to Governor Willie Obiano, commended the swift response of the Federal Government to the disaster.
Odili, who took the minister round the market in company of NEMA and Red Cross Society officials, requested for fire trucks from Federal Government to help combat such incidences in future.
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