Victims of the fire outbreak that destroyed parts of the SPAR shopping complex in Calabar are to receive support from the Cross River State Government as the administration moves to assess the extent of the damage and facilitate the recovery of affected businesses.
Governor Bassey Otu gave the assurance following the incident, which affected shops and properties within the shopping complex.
The governor’s position was conveyed by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, who visited the scene to assess the damage and commiserate with the management and traders whose businesses were affected.
Odey said the state government would not abandon victims of the fire, assuring them of immediate intervention after a comprehensive assessment of the losses.
“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 said.
According to him, the government would determine the extent of the damage and identify areas requiring urgent intervention to enable affected businesses to recover.
“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,” Odey said.
He disclosed that the Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Efa Nyong, had commenced arrangements to conduct a detailed assessment of the affected premises and identify the immediate needs of the victims.
Odey said the exact cause of the fire had not been established, although preliminary indications pointed to a possible electrical fault.
“We have spoken with the management, but at this stage, we cannot conclusively say what caused the fire. 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,” he said.
The deputy governor stressed that the government’s intervention would go beyond sympathy, saying practical measures would be taken to support affected traders and businesses in getting back on their feet.
“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,” he said.
Odey also commended the Cross River State Fire Service for its prompt response, as well as the Federal Fire Service for joining the firefighting operation, saying the combined efforts helped prevent the fire from spreading further.
He described the firefighters’ intervention as an act of courage and sacrifice, noting that emergency responders had put their lives at risk to protect lives and property.
The deputy governor also commended the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies for securing the premises and preventing looting or other criminal activities in the aftermath of the incident.
Meanwhile, Odey disclosed that the state government had commenced measures to address some environmental and infrastructural challenges in the area.
He said water was being redirected from Channel 1 to reduce the risk of structural collapse and protect houses and other properties along the drainage corridor.
“We cannot wait until another disaster occurs before we act,” he said.
The deputy governor expressed concern over the series of emergencies recorded in Calabar within a short period, including fire outbreaks and landslides, saying the development required a more coordinated approach to disaster prevention and response.
He disclosed that the state government was engaging federal agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) and agencies responsible for the National Ecological Fund, to secure technical and financial assistance to tackle some of the emerging challenges.
Odey reiterated the administration’s commitment to protecting lives, livelihoods and investments across the state, assuring residents that the government would remain responsive to emergencies.
“The government is here for the people. 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 said.
He urged the management of SPAR and affected traders to remain calm and cooperate with SEMA and other relevant agencies as the damage assessment continues.