Onitsha Fire disaster: Gov Obiano gives N8.5m lifeline to victims

The Anambra state government has compensated the 17 victims of last week’s fire incident that occurred at Dennis Memorial Grammar School, (DMGS), roundabout Onitsha.
The victims, who lost their properties worth millions of naira to the disaster, received a cheque for N500, 000 each for their relocation and other personal needs.
The compensation was in accordance with the recommendation of the 12-man committee instituted by the state government, after the fire incident on the 15th of February this year, to ascertain the level of damages and the number of Victims involved.
It would be recalled that on the February 15 the year, a tanker loaded with fuel rammed into a filling station located at DMGS roundabout, Onitsha and set several houses and cars on fire.
Disbursing the cheques at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, said the gesture was in line with his promise to intervene in their situation and make alternative arrangements for their relocation.
Governor Obiano, who regretted the level of damages caused by the inferno, announced the relocation of every filling station within residential areas or have a change of purpose clause to avoid sell of highly inflammable products within a neighborhood.
Governor Obiano expressed dismay 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.
Chief Obiano noted that the three fire fighters would be allotted to the three main markets in the state, such as Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka markets, adding that 24 ambulances had been provided for further emergency situations.
Governor Obiano charged the people of the state to always map out measures for safety and insure their various properties to receive appropriate compensation from insurance companies in such incident.
The Governor disclosed that the state government had commenced the recruitment of 100,000 capable youths for training to enable them operate the firefighting trucks, alongside 200 emergency nurses to respond to any emergency situations at real time.
The executive secretary of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. 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 a total of 73 persons were affected which includes petty traders, business owners, tenants, landlords, law chambers, vehicle owners among others, saying the state governor chose to first compensate 17 persons due to the urgency of their situation.