The House of Representatives has directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief materials to victims of the recent fire incident at Abak Main Market in Akwa Ibom State.
Though the cause of the tragedy was not known, eye witness reported that goods and properties worth millions were destroyed by the midnight inferno.
This was sequel to a motion of urgent national importance by a member representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency, Hon. Aniekan Umanah and entitled Urgent Need To Empathize With And Provide Relief Materials For Victims Of The Recent Fire Incidence At Abak Main Market during the house plenary on Tuesday.
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Umanah said that the materials were “to cushion the effect of losses incurred during the fire.”
The House also urged the Federal Fire Service to enhance the operational capacity of their outpost to enable them rise to the occasion whenever fire disaster occur.
“The House Notes that while people all over the world were eagerly preparing and waiting to be ushered into the New Year 2023 with joy, a devastating fire gutted down the popular Abak market at the Abak Market square area of Abak Town, in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on December 30, 2022 at midnight.
The House Further notes that the inferno which began at about 12am lasted for over four hours before it was brought under control through community efforts and intervention by men of the Federal Fire Service, Uyo.”
The House “Aware that there have been an alarming increase in fire disasters in the markets across the country in the recent past, while observing that inferno wrecked havoc on people and properties resulting in several burns injuries and huge loses incurred by the hapless citizens and traders”.
The motion also disturbed that the ugly incident has left it’s victims distraught and helpless especially that the market served as their only source of livelihood with so much responsibilities to cater for,
“Further disturbed that majority of the victims obtained various forms of loans to finance their trading ventures and with the unfortunate situation are now jobless and unable to meet their daily responsibilities.”
The House equally expressed worry that the highly industrious people of this community are majorly traders, farmers artisans and small scale entrepreneurs and have contributed their quota in the maintenance of peace and general development of the country and face imminent outbreak of epidemics arising from hunger and unhealthy lifestyle.
The House therefore has called on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs & Disaster Management to immediately take stock of the affected innocent citizens and work out measures to assist them restore their means of livelihood.
It also urged the Committees on Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation as well as Interior to ensure compliance of the motion.
