March 12, 2024
Traders of the popular timber line of Ehere Market located along the Aba-Ikot Ekpene road have been thrown into sadness as they count their losses in a midnight fire that gutted their shops, Monday night.
Abia State governor, Alex Otti, who was in the market on Tuesday, March 12, for the on-spot assessment of the damage caused by the inferno stressed the need for markets in the state to be built in such a way as to make for ease of movement in the event of fire outbreaks.
The governor who regretted that the way the market was built made it susceptible to fire outbreaks, directed the Mayor of Obingwa LGA, Dr. Eric Egwuibe, to immediately commence processes towards rebuilding the market.
“What we will do is to assess the level of damage. We will also through the Mayor begin the process of rebuilding this place.
“I think the way the market is, makes it susceptible to fire incident. We need to ensure there are fire extinguishers in all the shops around here.
“I am giving an instruction to the Mayor to assess the level of damage and begin the process of rebuilding, bring down all those ramshackle buildings and build proper shops for all of you.
“We also want the shops to be properly built because the way it is, it is easy to conduct fire leading to other shops.
“Even the way the entire place looks, it is not very decent and very inviting. So I will like you to trade in an environment that is conducive.”
The governor who noted that on getting information about the disaster, he quickly mobilized men of the homeland security and fire service to put out the fire, thanked God that no life was lost in the inferno.
He assured that fire extinguishers will be procured and placed strategically in the market to enable traders to tackle such outbreaks in the future.
Governor Otti said his vision is to ensure that traders operate in a conducive environment fit for trading and assured that the government will assess the level of damage to support them to replace their lost goods.
“The details of how it would be done would be worked out. One thing I can assure you is that if you do have a shop here, you will not lose your shop.
“We also know that this damage would have cost a lot of loss to the owners, by the time we do the assessment, we see how we can support them.”
Governor Otti also inspected an accident scene, on the same Ikot Ekpene Road, a short distance away from the market, towards the Aba Waterside, involving a trailer loaded with bags of cement.
The accident which happened Monday night saw the trailer skidding off the main road and slamming into a business building.
“No life was lost in the accident as the driver of the trailer and his conductor were pulled out of the wrecked vehicle.”
The governor directed the Director General of Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), Arch Uche Ukeje, who accompanied him on the visits to liaise with the police to ensure immediate evacuation of the damaged trailer.
