The House of Representatives has
urgeed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials for the victims of the fire disaster at Amu Building Materials Market in Lagos State in order to ease their pains.
It mandated the Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness to investigate the remote cause of the incidence as well as visit the scene of the fire disaster and commiserate with the people and government of Lagos State.
The House also commiserated with the Government and good people of Lagos State and in particular the victims of the fire out-break being the traders.
These resolutions were taken after adoption of a motion on: ‘Urgent Need to Investigate the Fire Disaster at Amu Building Materials, Amu Street, Mushin II, Lagos State sponsored by Bolaji Ayinla (APC, Lagos) during plenary on Wednesday.
Ayinla in his presentation said, the House notes that on 25 January, 2020, fire raced down the Amu Building Materials Market in Amu Street, Mushin II in Lagos State, destroying goods worth Billions of Naira.
He stated that: “House also notes that the market which is the biggest market in the State has been affected with varying degrees of losses occasioned by fired outbreak.
“Aware that the cause of the fire at Amu Building Materials Market is yet to be determined, but eye witnesses said that the fire started 12 midnight.
“Informed that shops and other valuables were destroyed in the inferno thereby taking away the means of livelihood of the traders who are now worried about their inability to continue in business and also interests accruing on the loans they took from commercial banks to stock their shops.
“Cognizant of the provision of Section 14 (2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which provides that the Security and Welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government would become a mere dream if necessary actions are not taken to bring succor to the affected traders”.
Similarly, the House urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief materials to the victims of Mgbuka Obosi Fire Outbreak in Anambara State.
It mandated the Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the fire outbreak and report back within Four (4) weeks four further legislative action;
The Green Chamber also reminded the Federal Government of the House Resolution of October 29, 2019, calling for establishment of a Federal Fire Station in Onitsha, or its environs.
It called on the House to observe one minute silence in the memory of one Mr. Godwin Edozieuno who lost his life in the Fire incident.
These resolutions were sequel to motion on: “Need to Investigate the Fire Incident at the Old Motor Spare Parts Market, Obosi, Anambra State moved
by Okwudili Ezenwankwo (APGA).
Ezenwankwo said the House: “notes that at the early hours of January 11, 2020, fire erupted at the Old Motor Spare Parts Market, Ugwuagba-Obosi, popularly known as Mgbuka Obosi Market in Anambra State.
“Informed that the fire outbreak razed more than four hundred (400) lockup shops and caused the death of one Mr. Godwin Edozieuno.
“Also informed that Anambra State accommodates over Seventy-Five (75) major markets where goods worth billions of naira are traded, yet there is no presence of Federal Fire Service in the State.
“Recalls that a similar Motion was moved on October 29, 2019 in respect of the Upper Iweka/Ochanja Market Fire Incident and the House resolved, inter alia, to call on the Federal Government to establish a Federal Fire Service Station in Onitsha or its environs.
“Worried that no feasible steps have been taken to establish any Federal Fire Service station in Anambra State, especially in Onitsha where over Thirty-Five (35) major markets are situated.
“Disturbed that the absence of a Federal Fire Service contributed to the extent of damage wrecked by the Fire outbreak at the market”.
Both motions were unanimously adopted when put to voice vote by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila who presided over the sitting.
James Kwen, Abuja
