Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State, has assured victims of the fire outbreak that ravaged a section of the SPAR shopping complex in Calabar of the state government’s full support, promising immediate intervention to mitigate the impact of the incident and facilitate the recovery of affected businesses.
The governor’s assurance was conveyed on Saturday by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Dr. Peter Odey, who visited the scene of the incident to assess the extent of the damage, commiserate with the management and traders affected by the fire, and reassure them that the government would not abandon them at a moment of such distress.
Speaking with journalists at the scene, Odey said, “His Excellency, the governor, is deeply concerned about this unfortunate incident. We are here to identify with the management, the traders and everyone who has been affected, and to assure them that they are not alone at this difficult moment.”
He added, “The government will not abandon anybody who has suffered losses as a result of this incident. We are going to assess the extent of the damage and determine what immediate intervention is required to assist the victims and support the recovery process.”
The deputy governor who disclosed he had interacted with the management of the shopping complex said the exact cause of the fire was yet to be established, although preliminary indications suggested a possible electrical fault.
“We have spoken with the management, but at this stage, we cannot conclusively say what caused the fire,” he explained. “There are indications that it may have been electrical, but we must allow the appropriate authorities to conduct their investigations before arriving at a definitive conclusion.”
Odey disclosed the Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had already commenced arrangements to assess the damage and identify the immediate needs of those affected.
“The Director-General of SEMA is already on the matter. The agency will carry out a proper assessment of the damage, identify the victims and establish the areas where immediate relief is required,” he said.
According to him, the state government would go beyond merely assessing the damage by taking practical steps to assist affected businesses to recover from the devastating incident.
“Our objective is not just to come here, sympathise with the victims and leave. We want to see how government can support them to get back on their feet,” the deputy governor said. “We will provide the necessary support within the capacity of government to ensure that the affected businesses can resume operations as soon as reasonably possible.”
Odey stressed the government would also examine the circumstances surrounding the incident with a view to preventing a recurrence, saying, “We will look at what happened, identify the gaps and take appropriate measures to ensure that an incident of this nature does not happen again.”
The deputy governor commended the Cross River State Fire Service for its prompt response, noting that the agency had been adequately equipped by the state government to respond to emergencies.
“I want to commend the Cross River State Fire Service. They responded promptly and professionally to this emergency,” he said. “This is why it is important for us to continue investing in our emergency-response institutions. When disaster strikes, every minute matters.”
He equally acknowledged the intervention of the Federal Fire Service, saying, “We appreciate the Federal Fire Service for joining the effort. The collaboration between the state and federal firefighters helped in bringing the situation under control and preventing further spread of the fire.”
Odey paid special tribute to the firefighters, describing their intervention as an act of courage and sacrifice.
“These men and women put their lives on the line to save lives and property. We must appreciate their courage, their professionalism and their commitment,” he stated.
He also commended the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies for maintaining order around the complex and preventing the situation from degenerating into another crisis.
“I commend the police and all the other security agencies that have remained here to secure the premises,” Odey said. “They have ensured that the unfortunate situation was not compounded by looting or other criminal activities. That is extremely important.”
The deputy governor further disclosed that the state government was taking proactive measures to address environmental and infrastructural challenges that could expose residents to further danger.
He said water was already being redirected from Channel 1 as part of measures to protect houses and other structures located along the affected drainage corridor.
“We have already started redirecting the water from Channel 1,” he disclosed. “The objective is to ensure that houses along that line are no longer exposed to the danger of collapse. We cannot wait until another disaster occurs before we act.”
Odey expressed concern that Calabar had experienced a series of unfortunate incidents within a relatively short period, including fire outbreaks and landslides, saying the development demanded a comprehensive and coordinated response.
“It is regrettable that Calabar has witnessed a number of calamities within a short period,” he said. “We have had fires, landslides and other emergencies, and these incidents require us to look beyond individual responses. We must strengthen our preventive measures and our capacity to respond when emergencies occur.”
He disclosed that the Cross River State Government was already working with relevant federal institutions, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) and agencies responsible for the National Ecological Fund, to address the emerging challenges.
“We are engaging with NEMA, the South-South Development Commission and the National Ecological Fund because some of these challenges require resources and technical intervention beyond what the state can do alone,” Odey explained.
He added, “The governor has made it clear that the safety and welfare of Cross Riverians remain paramount. We will continue to work with federal agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that we respond adequately to emergencies and also put measures in place to prevent them.”
The deputy governor reiterated the administration’s commitment to protecting lives, livelihoods and investments across the state, stressing that the government would remain responsive whenever citizens faced emergencies.
“The government is here for the people,” he declared. “Whenever our people are confronted with challenges of this nature, we will respond.
“We may not be able to undo what has happened, but we can reduce the pain, support recovery and ensure that the lessons from the incident are used to prevent a recurrence.”
He urged the management and affected traders at SPAR to remain calm and cooperate with the relevant government agencies as the damage assessment continued.
“I appeal to everyone affected to remain calm and cooperate with SEMA and the other agencies as they carry out their assessment,” Odey said. “We understand the anxiety and uncertainty that come with losing property and means of livelihood, but I want to assure you that the government stands with you and will do everything within its capacity to support your recovery.”
