Awka – The Member representing Onitsha South Two Constituency at the Anambra State Assembly, Hon Beverly Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche has expressed sadness over the destruction of citizens’ means of livelihood during a recent fire incident that occurred at Amobi street axis of Ochanja market.
Last week, a midnight fire destroyed goods, cash and property worth hundreds of millions at the market at a plaza at the Amobi Market.
Speaking after her visit to the scene to get an on-the-spot assessment of the situation, Hon Ikpeazu- Nkemdiche sympathized with her constituents, building owners and traders that have shops at the plaza, as well as the entire Onitsha South, as the fire affected both Onitsha South One and Two Constituencies.
“I sincerely want to sympathize with my constituents and other persons whose shops and goods were destroyed in the fire. I saw the havoc wrecked by the inferno and I am greatly touched,” she said.
She thanked God that although a lot of damage was done, no life was lost to the incident.
The lawmaker regretted that the incident happened now that the globe is experiencing hard times, with the sources of livelihood of many families affected by the global Covid19 pandemic.
She however admonished the affected persons not to despair as all hope is not lost, urging them to brace for the future and overcome the setback.
“It’s a pity that this incident happened in this time of global economic crisis occasioned by the COVID19 pandemic. I am more concerned about the families that will be affected and the sufferings of the people. But I want to encourage them to know that tough times don’t last but tough people do. As long as there is life, there is hope,” she encouraged.
Hon Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche who commended the state Fire Service for their prompt response to the inferno, hailed the state government for providing fire fighting trucks and increasing the emergency response capacity of the agency.
According to her, it was the efforts of the fire service men and others, that prevented the inferno from escalating further.
She promised victims of the incident that government will look into it, to see what could be done.
