Nnewi Timber/Palm Oil Market Fire: Azubogu inspects damage, urges support, calls for Investigation

The Governorship aspirant under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Engr Chris Azubogu, on Thursday inspected the damage at the Nnewi timber and palm oil markets gutted by fire, urging for urgent investigations into the cause of the fire outbreak and supports who victims of the fire.

Engr Azubogu, representing Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, lamented the level of loss incurred by the traders especially as they were still struggling to recover from the COVID-19 economy and 2020 lockdown which had businesses worst hit by the uncertainties of the business environment.

Azubogu said “it is regrettable that we are at this point at a time like this. At a time our people are struggling to recover from COVID-19 ushered uncertainties that shut down almost the entire 2020, and to witness this fire outbreak on our major markets is so unfortunate.”

He stated that his concern now is on how these markets can be rebuilt, reduce the burden of loss on the traders that lost their goods to fire and prevent future occurrence.

“Our concern right now should be on how to help these traders to return to their businesses, rebuild these markets and put a mechanism to prevent future occurrence. We also expect a comprehensive investigation of the remote and immediate cause of the fire so that we will help in shaping our future preventive plans, he said.

Azubogu also stated that he will engage the relevant agencies of government saddled with issues like this type of disaster to see how they can intervene.