Onitsha fire disaster: Anambra Govt inaugurates 12-man committee

The Anambra state government has inaugurated a 12-man Assessment Committee on Onitsha fire disaster, at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.
The committee was appointed on the February 16 by the state government to ascertain the level of damages that occurred during the recent fire disaster at Onitsha, where over 15 houses, cars and other properties worth millions of naira were razed.
It has its chairman and the state secretary of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Chief Paul Odenigbo, while the secretary was Mrs. Chinyere Nwabachili.
Other members were the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike, the State Commander Federal Roads Safety Commission, Mr. Mike Ajayi, Engr Romanus Ejikeme, C. P Ike Aduba (rtd), Barr Ike Emmanuel, Mr. Abubaka Yahaya, Mr. Ben Ofoma, Dr. Peter Katchy, Barr C. Onyejekwe, and Mr. Chineme Oguegbe
Inaugurating the committee members, the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano charged them to determine immediate and remote cause of the incident and estimate the loss sustained so as to determine how displaced families can be assisted.
Governor Obiano said the committee members were painstakingly chosen from every sector such as health, security, environment among others to recommend immediate things the government can do to further avert such situation.
Governor Obiano regretted that the state recorded several fire incidents simultaneously in Nimo, Unizik, Nnewi and Okpuno and he had put every measure to reinforce the men of fire fighters by providing 3 state-of-the-art fire trucks of 10,000 capacity of water with 75kg of powder and 750 litters of foam.
The governor disclosed that the state government had finalized arrangements to train 100,000 capable youths to enable them operate the firefighting trucks, and respond to any emergency situations at real time.
Governor Obiano charged the Federal Roads Safety Corps to tighten up operational modalities and arrest all vehicles that are not road worth and as well continue in the fight against indiscriminate parking of trucks and other vehicles.
While restating is resolve to take responsibility of the injured, the Governor promised to pay one year rent to the displaced people to minimize their pains, urging the committee members the submit their report before 15th of March.
The Secretary of the State Government, SSG Prof Solo Chukwulobelu represented by the Permanent Secretaries in the SSG’s office, Mr. Daniel Ezeanwu said the vision of the present administration was to reshape the face of the state and improve the quality of life of the people.
Mr. Ezeanwu promised that his office would follow strictly the directives of the governor to ensuring a better living.
The Chairman of the committee and the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Chief Paul Odenigbo pointed that the committee moved into action on the 16th of February, 2017, due to the urgency of the matter and had visited the sites of other 5 fire disasters that took place in the same day.
Mr. Odenigbo said the committee had compiled a comprehensive list of houses involved, saying 17 families were affected and there would be need for urgent rehabilitation.
“We have made enquiry and found out that rent in Onitsha cost N300,000 to N350,000, but we recommend the state government to pay N500,000 each.”
Mr. Odenigbo promised to deliver their duties in line with specification within the time limit, adding that their report would be satisfactory.