Fire outbreak: Otu gives N10m to C’River Hausa/Fulani community
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
Following the outbreak of fire in Bogobiri, a Hausa/Fulani settlement within Calabar municipality, the state governor, Bassey Out has doled out a N10 million naira lifeline to the people.
The donation is meant for the palm oil marketers in the area whose line of shops was recently gutted by fire.
Governor Otu who was accompanied by his deputy, Peter Odey as well as the speaker of the state house of assembly, Elvert Ayambem assured that his administration will erect ultra-modern palm oil market in the affected area as well as a centre of trade.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbeche, in Calabar, Governor Otu was quoted as saying that he is deeply touched by the extent of the carnage, describing the inferno as unfortunate and sad.
“As a government, we are indeed very sad with what has happened here given the level of losses recorded.
“For people who have never been here before, they will not know the extent of this carnage. This is very serious considering that this is the centre of trade for the Hausa community in the capital.
“For today, we will immediately make available the sum of N10million and then we will quickly help in erecting these stores back.
“This must not discourage you in anyway, things will happen, but your resilience determines it all. We will do the very best that we can, to bring back life to normal here.
“The new government is trying to put structures in place, and in not too distant time, I believe that we will start functioning at the optimum level that is expected,” the governor stated.
Earlier, Head of the Hausa/Fulani Community, Alhaji Garba Lawal, expressed happiness that the governor was at the scene to see things for himself and feel the devastating effects on the traders and occupants of the area.
Lawal, who informed that the incident occurred when the entire community was engaged in congregational prayers at the Mosque, said the cause of the fire still remains unknown.
Alhaji Lawal applauded the fire fighters in the state, affirming that if not for them, the carnage would have been worse.
The Bogobiri oil palm market is one of the largest oil palm markets in the state where processed palm kernels from the interior part of the state is being packaged in containers for export to other parts of the state.
