Ariaria Inferno: Otti Sympathizes with Traders, Calls for on-the-Spot Assessment

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has dispatched the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, and the Senior Special Assistant on Aba Rejuvenation, Mr. Uche Ukeje, for an on-the-spot assessment of the inferno which happened on Sunday morning at Powerline in Ariaria International Market Aba.

Commiserating with the victims of the fire on Tuesday, Governor Otti stated that even though the cause of the fire was blamed on erratic power supply, his administration would come up with the next line of action on how to forestall a reoccurrence of the tragic incident and assist the affected traders to mitigate their loss.

In a statement made available by his Chief Press Secretary, Kazie Uko sympathized with the traders who lost their goods which were worth hundreds of millions of Naira, and promised improved safety and welfare of the traders.

“The Governor, while promising that government will continue to work with the leadership of the market to improve on the welfare and safety of both traders and visitors to the market, expressed gratitude to God that no life was lost in the fire as only material and redeemable items were destroyed.”

According to an eyewitness, the fire which started around 10 pm on Saturday started with a spark when power was restored. Unfortunately, the Abia State Fire Service did not arrive on time to quench the inferno.