Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has assured victims of the fire outbreak that ravaged a section of the SPAR shopping complex in Calabar that his administration will provide support to mitigate their losses and facilitate the recovery of affected businesses.
The assurance was conveyed by the Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Odey, who visited the scene of the incident to assess the extent of the damage and sympathise with the management, traders and other persons affected by the inferno.
Speaking during the visit, Odey said the state government was deeply concerned about the incident and would not abandon businesses and individuals whose livelihoods had been affected by the fire.
He said the government’s intervention would go beyond expressing sympathy, stressing that authorities would first assess the extent of the destruction before determining the immediate assistance required by the victims.
According to him, the administration’s objective is to ensure that affected businesses receive the necessary support to recover and return to normal operations as quickly as possible.
Odey said, “The government will not abandon anybody who has suffered losses as a result of this incident. We are going to assess the extent of the damage and determine what immediate intervention is required to assist the victims and support the recovery process.”
He disclosed that the Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, CR-SEMA, Efa Nyong, had commenced arrangements to document the affected businesses, individuals and property losses as part of efforts to establish the level of intervention required.
The damage assessment is being carried out in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society. The agencies have been documenting the losses and identifying the immediate needs of those affected by the disaster.
The fire broke out at the SPAR shopping complex in Calabar in the early hours of Saturday, August 22, with reports indicating that the inferno started at about 6:00 a.m. Thick smoke reportedly spread across parts of the city as firefighters battled to contain the blaze.
Several businesses within the complex were affected, including a pharmacy, electronics store, clothing outlet, perfumery and phone shop. Shops, goods and other property were destroyed, with the Cross River State Government describing the losses as substantial.
No death was recorded in the incident, although some people were reportedly affected by smoke generated by the fire.
Odey also commended the Cross River State Fire Service for its response to the emergency, as well as the Federal Fire Service and other first responders who participated in efforts to prevent the fire from spreading further.
He acknowledged the risks taken by the emergency responders and praised their efforts in protecting lives and property during the incident. Security agencies were also commended for securing the premises and preventing possible looting or vandalism after the fire.
While preliminary indications have pointed to a possible electrical fault as the cause of the fire, the Deputy Governor stressed that the cause had not been conclusively established.
He said the appropriate authorities would be allowed to complete their investigations before a definitive conclusion was reached on what triggered the inferno.
The government has also expressed concern over the recurrence of emergencies in Calabar and the need for stronger disaster-prevention and response mechanisms.
Odey said the state was taking steps to address some environmental and infrastructural challenges around the area, including measures to redirect water from Channel 1 to reduce the risk of structural collapse and protect nearby properties.
He further disclosed that the state government was engaging federal agencies, including NEMA and other relevant bodies, to explore technical and financial assistance in responding to emerging emergencies and disaster-related challenges.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Commerce, Dr Abigail Duke Orok, has also sympathised with the management of SPAR, affected shop owners and other victims of the fire.
She said the ongoing documentation and assessment by NEMA, CR-SEMA and the Nigerian Red Cross would help facilitate relief and recovery efforts. She also reassured investors that the state government remained committed to maintaining a safe and investor-friendly business environment in Cross River.
The Cross River State Government has urged affected businesses and residents to remain calm and cooperate with emergency agencies as the assessment continues.
Authorities are expected to use the outcome of the damage assessment to determine the appropriate form of government intervention and relief for the affected businesses and individuals.
