Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Traders along the 9th mile – OPI axis of Oturkpo-9th mile Federal Highway have raised the alarm over deplorable condition of the road and the danger it posed to roadside traders and the people generally.
They spoke in reaction to the recent fire outbreaks at Opi market in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State, which was caused by a fallen tanker laden with petroleum products.
Ikengaonline learnt that, though no life was lost, over 120 shops were completely raised and the only affected person is currently receiving treatment at the Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka.
Speaking during a fact finding visit by officials of Enugu State Emergency Management Agency to the scene of the inferno, Mr. Linus Eze, Chairman of Afor-Opi Market Traders Association, said that 120 shops, 9 buildings, and goods worth millions of naira were destroyed in the fire incident.
He lamented that the incident had brought untold hardship to the affected as most of them have no other means of livelihood.
He appealed to the government at all levels and good-spirited individuals to come to their aid.
According to him: “The unfortunate incident happened when the tanker driver tried to avoid pot-holes on the road but lost control and the tanker fell, exploded, and went into flames.
“Please, take your findings direct to the president and the governor, we need their urgent intervention, this is too much for us to bear.
“About 120 shops and warehouses fully stocked with goods worth over N1 billion were destroyed, residents and passers-by did their best to quench the fire but it was not possible.
“I am appealing on behalf of the affected traders for the intervention of the state and Federal Government to come to our plight with immediate deployment of relief materials as well as assistance in the rebuilding and reconstruction of the affected shops and buildings,” he said.
The market leader blamed the accident on the deplorable condition of 9th-Mile-Obollo Afor-Makurdi road which he said had forced truck drivers into diverting to the old 9th mile-Abor-Ukehe-Opi-Makurdi road along which the market is situated.
The member representing Nsukka East constituency in the Enugu state House of Assembly, Hon. Pius Onyeka Ezugwu, who facilitated the fact finding mission by the ESEMA urged Enugu State Government and the Federal Government to fix the 9th-Mile-Obollo Afor-Makurdi and 9th mile-Abor-Ukehe-Opi-Makurdi roads which are in a deplorable condition to prevent future occurrence of such incident.
He appealed to the affected traders to exercise patience, expressing optimism that the state and Federal Government through ESEMA and NEMA will come to their aid.
Mrs. Chinasa Mbah, Head of ESEMA said that they were in the market to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the fire incident as well as to commiserate with the market leaders and the traders whose goods and shops were destroyed by the fire.
