Traders at Umuokpara Market in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State have appealed to the Federal Government for urgent assistance following a fire outbreak that destroyed shops, goods and sources of livelihood in the market.
The appeal came as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) conducted an assessment of the disaster to determine the extent of damage and identify the immediate needs of affected traders.
A NEMA team from its Owerri Operations Office visited the market on July 16 to evaluate losses caused by the fire, which occurred on June 30, and gather information that would guide possible humanitarian interventions.
During the assessment, officials inspected affected sections of the market and engaged traders and market leaders to obtain firsthand accounts of the incident and its impact on victims.
Speaking during the visit, the team leader, Mr. Nweze Innocent, sympathised with those affected by the disaster and commended efforts by traders to recover from the losses.
He assured them of NEMA’s support and urged traders to adopt safety measures that would help prevent similar incidents in the future.
“We sympathise with the affected traders and commend the recovery efforts already underway. NEMA will continue to provide the necessary support within its mandate, while traders should avoid practices that could lead to similar disasters,” Innocent said.
The Chairman of Umuokpara Market, Mr. Loveday Eboh, who led the market executive during the engagement, said the scale of the destruction had overwhelmed the capacity of traders and local authorities to respond effectively.
According to him, support received from individuals, the local government and the state government has been exhausted, leaving many victims unable to rebuild their businesses and return to normal economic activities.
Eboh appealed to the Federal Government, through NEMA, to provide urgent relief and support to affected traders.”We call on the Federal Government through NEMA to come to our rescue.
The support we have received from individuals, the local government and the state government has been exhausted, and many traders no longer have the capacity to return to business and normal life,” he said.
The assessment is expected to provide the basis for NEMA’s recommendations and possible humanitarian assistance to victims of the fire disaster.
