Soludo raises panel over Onitsha drug market fire

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has appointed a 9-man panel of inquiry, to look into the remote and immediate causes of the inferno at Onitsha Brigade head drug market and ways of avoiding future occurrence.

The panel, which has its name as, ‘Fire Disaster and Kindred Matters Committee,’ is headed by a member of the Bridgehead market caretaker committee and former gubernatorial candidate of National Conscience Party (NCP), Peter Okala.

Frank Udemadu, who was former secretary of Oniitsha Patent and Proprietory Medicine Dealers Association (OPPMDA) will serve as secretary of the panel.

The panel was aimed at ensuring better welfare for victims of the November 8, 2022, fire disaster at the Oniitsha Bridgehead drug market, in which eight people lost their lives and properties estimated to run into several millions of naira destroyed,

The governor, who made the appointment through the caretaker committee chairman of Oniitsha South Local Government Area, Emeka Orji, said that the committee has four weeks to present its report to the council chairman, for onward submission to the governor.

Making this disclosure to newsmen in Oniitsha Tuesday, Okala said that the terms of reference included, establishment of remote and immediate causes of the inferno, quantity of lives and properties lost, advice to government on how to avert future occurrence and emergency management in both the market and other markets in the state.

“The governor has through the Oniitsha South council chairman appointed us, to establish the remote and immediate causes of the explosion at the drug, (Ogbogwu) market, on November 8, 2022,

“Quantity of loss, human and material losses and advise government on possible prevention means of future occurrence in both the market and others in the state.

“Also to advise it on emergency management. We are given four weeks to present our report to the caretaker committee chairman of Oniitsha South council area, Hon. Emeka Orji, who constituted us on behalf of His Excellency, Gov. Soludo”, he said.

Okala further said that members of the committee comprised men of sterling qualities who are or have been market leaders at the Oniitsha Bridgehead market and have traded there for over 30 years.

He named the members to include, Peter Okala as chairman, Frank Udemadu, secretary, Ikechukw Orizu, Donatus Ajanma, Samuel Nzeobi, Kelvin Ibelo, Nerus Nwanze, Ikenna Umeh and Chigozie Ezenwanne, as members.

He said: “I see this appointment as selfless service to traders and humanity and as an opportunity to protect traders and government.

“We invite the Oniitsha South Local Government Area caretaker committee chairman, Hon. Emeka Orji, to the site to inspect the ongoing work as this will assist us and make our work effective.”