But for the hindsight of Anambra
State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, traders and families
with shops and goods at the multi billion naira Onitsha
Main Market, the biggest market in West African sub-region would
have been in anguish if government had not provided functional
firefighting equipment to forestall such fire outbreak.
Governor Obiano had two months ago
provided fire-fighting equipment at the market to enable men of the Anambra
State Fire Service to respond timely to any outbreak of fire in the area.
Few days ago, there was fire disaster at Bright Street, Onitsha, which escalated and almost spread to the nearby roaring business axis of Onitsha Main Market, but for the prompt intervention of fire fighters who laid hands on the firefighting equipment provided by the governor.
Speaking when he visited the site
of the fire incident to sympathize with traders affected by the fire, governor
Obiano expressed delight that the fire-fighting equipment provided in the
market two months ago by the State Government was used to control the fire from
spreading to the entire market.
The governor noted that the fire
started in a shop where gun powder was stored; pointing out that government
would investigate the matter and prosecute the culprit for engaging in
illegality. He announced the ban on sale of gun powder and other explosives and
warned that nobody should be allowed to deal on such materials without police
permit.
According to him, “the police
permit would specify and regulate where and how such materials would be stored
and where it can be sold.”
Said governor Obiano: “Following
this ban, it is illegal for anyone to be in possession of gun powder and other
explosives materials. Such possession must be with the permission of the police
whose duty it is to specify and regulate where and how such materials can be
stored and sold.”
Obiano enjoined traders to keep
fire extinguishers in their various shops to ensure prompt intervention during
fire outbreak.
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