By Peter Okolie
Onitsha – An industrialist, Dr Chike Obidigbo, has urged Anambra Government to decongest Onitsha of illegal structures, to reduce the impact of fire disasters and other unexpected calamities.
Obidigbo made the call in Onitsha while inspecting the damage caused by an inferno which engulfed a filling station, 10 buildings and 15 vehicles in Onitsha on Feb. 15.
The inferno was caused by an articulated vehicle which lost control inside a Mobil filling station while negotiating the Denis Memorial Grammar School Roundabout in Onitsha.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that barely two weeks after that incident, a Sunday night fire engulfed some industrial buildings along Ilodibe Street, beside Ekene Dili Chukwu Factory, Awada by Upper Iweka, destroying property and equipment worth millions of naira.
Obidigbo, an aspirant in the November governorship election of the state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), described the fire disaster as “one of the most unfortunate incidents in Onitsha”.
He blamed the situation on failure to provide adequate fire service equipment and inability to implement urban and town planning laws and rules in Onitsha.
“This situation has left the commercial city extremely vulnerable to illegal structures that are unfriendly to the inhabitants.
“Considering the fact that it happened at a time when the economy is suffering from hard biting recession, the loss of property and business structure is indeed a great loss.
“No life was lost and we thank God for that; I, therefore, urge the victims to take heart and rest their hope in God.”
Obidigbo urged the government to rise to the occasion and sanitise the economic hubs of Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka, to avert huge losses in future disasters.
Meanwhile, Mr Innocent Mbonu of the State Fire Service, has said that no life was lost in the Sunday night fire incident that occurred at about 9 p.m.
However, an eyewitness said that three people involved in the rescue mission incident sustained injuries.
A victim, Mr Tony Ubakasi, said he lost a variety of machines, electricity generating sets, raw materials and finished products worth over N300 million.
“It will be difficult to start life again after investing heavily in the cluster”.
NAN learnt that the cluster is noted for the production assorted types of polythene bags.
According to him, 200 direct and 50 indirect workers will lose their jobs and appealed to the state government and spirited individuals to assist them to start life afresh.
Another victim, Mr Hyacinth Ogugua, who said he lost equipment and materials worth N20 million, also appealed to government for assistance.
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