Abia State State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has commiserated with residents of No. 73 Lagos Street, Off Ngwa road, Aba on the fire incidence that engulfed the second floor of their two storey building, destroying property worth millions of Naira.
The Governor, who was speaking when he paid an unscheduled visit to the site of the inferno, located at Lagos Street, at Aba South Local Government Area described the incidence as unfortunate.
He urged the victims to take heart and assured that government would help them reduce the effect of the lost on them as well as support them to get an alternative accomodation. He also thanked God that no life was lost in the inferno.
Governor Otti directed the Senior Special Assistant on Homeland Security to carry out an investigation to find out what actually led to the inferno.
He stressed the need for every household to have a fire extinguisher, and directed that henceforth, there is going to be enforcement of compulsory fire extinguisher in all households.
The State Chief Executive, who regretted the report that the phone numbers of the Fire Service men at Aba were switched off
further directed that a thorough investigation should be conducted to ascertain why the phone numbers were off during the such emergency.
“Its quite unfortunate, the thing is that investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the inferno. Whether it’s a natural occurrence of some sort or one was careless with may be stove.
“What we have to learn is that everyone should have fire extinguisher, if you had fire extinguisher, you would have been able to put off the fire.
“It’s quite unfortunate that the fire service could not come on time, normally they arrive within ten minutes, I’m surprised the way this one turned out.
“I have directed them to do a thorough investigation to ascertain why the phone numbers of fire service officers was off during the fire outbreak.
“They are not supposed to put off their phone. It’s really sad that it happened. The destruction is really unfortunate, but since it has happened, there is nothing anybody can do about it.
” I need to get a report about the fire service officers and why their phones were put off and this whole place burnt down completely.
“We spent a lot of money to equip them, buying them vehicles. In the past, they have responded very quickly and effectively, but unfortunately, this one, they didn’t,” Gov. Otti regretted.
Narrating their ordeals, the Landlord of the building, Mr. Vincent Uzuegbu, his family and a tenant in the building, Mr. Obinna Obi and his wife, said that they were asleep when the fire incidence started.
They said that they had gone to sleep on that Tuesday night when they heard some uproar. Upon opening the door, they saw the whole place covered with smoke and fire, they tried to get somethings out but could not.
The victims, who could not identify the cause of the fire outbreak, said that they lost everything and appealed to the State Government to come to their aid.
Ctz. UKOHA NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
04 – 04 – 2025.
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