By Ibe Okoro
Grains worth over N100 million were destroyed in a midnight inferno that gutted Akwatta food section of the popular Ogbette Market in Enugu.
Traders were seen crying yesterday bemoaning their loses to the fire, which cause was yet to be determined at the time of filing this report. Chairman of Corn Millers Association, Mr. Augustin Ogbonna, who described the inferno as a mystery, lamented that the loss was like the end of the world to the affected traders. “This is something we have not experienced before. Over 200 bags of Bambara nuts worth over N42,000 each were completely destroyed in the fire. All our milling machines were also burnt. The cost of all these is more than N100 million. “This is why we solicit the urgent help of the government and other public-spirited individuals to come to our aid. There is no electricity in this section of the market so we don’t know how the fire started,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Enugu State government has pledged to assist traders affected in the fire disaster.
The state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Sam Ogbu Nwobodo, who visited the affected section of the market to commiserate with the traders, assured that government would take steps to cushion the effect of the disaster on the traders.
According to Nwobodo, “The Enugu State government commiserates with you because you are part of this government. We urge you to support whatever effort the government puts in place to prevent such accidents.
“Most times, fire incidences are as a result of carelessness. So I advise traders to be careful.”
