Fire: RSG Presents N300m Cheque To Traders

Rivers State Government has fulfilled its promise to compensate victims of Mile One Market fire which occurred in December 2013 as it gave a cheque of N300million to the market association and N5Omillion to those affected at the New Market in town.
Presenting the cheque on Wednesday, Commissioner for Special Duties, Barrister Dickson Umunakwe said the money was released to help the traders recover from their loss, as it will help their business, while assuring them of government support.
Already government has directed that a three-man committee consisting of the traders association from both Mile 1 and New Layout market to ensure transparency in the disbursement of the funds.
He stated that, “You will recall that on the 17th of December, 2013 there was a fire incident at Rumuwoji Mile 1 Market, where the entire market was gutted down except for the intervention by the Rivers State fire service even the newly built-up area would have also been consumed.
“Now sequel to that incident, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Rt Hon. Chibuike Amaechi paid on the spot assessment to assess the extent of damage to the goods and the victims involved and in the course of his inspection, he promised to offer some form of financial assistance to the victims of the fire disaster, and we would recall that sometime last week, we did issue a statement from this office telling members of the public and the entire victims of the said fire disaster has approved the sum of N300million as financial assistance to the victims of the said fire disaster.”
On the New Layout Market, Umunakwe noted that after Governor Amaechi visited the scene of the market last year promised to cushion the loss of the traders by donating N50million to them. By this gesture, the governor has shown that he is humane and caring to the people.
In his response, Chairman of Mile One Market Trader’s Association, Deacon Kenneth Eze thanked Governor Amaechi for the kind gesture.
He assured that the traders would be always indebted to the Amaechi administration for coming to their aid over the fire incident.
Eze commended Amaechi for matching words with actions he pledged the support of the traders to the Amaechi administration.
The traders association also thanked Umunakwe for facilitating the payment of the fund and prayed God to be with the administration.

Treasurer, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Rivers/Bayelsa States branch, Engr. Ubril Balogun (left) and Chief Nabil Saleh during press briefing of 30th Annual General Meeting of the Council, recently. Photo: Egberi A. Sampson