The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (ESEMA) on Wednesday pledged assistance to some traders at Afor-Opi Market, Nsukka Local Government Area, whose shops were gutted by fire.

Many shops at the market were destroyed by fire on July 27,  when a fuel tanker lost control, fell and caught fire in front of the market, destroying goods, shops and buildings worth millions of naira.

Though no life was lost, one trader, John-paul Ugwuanyi, who was caught in the inferno and sustained injuries, is still receiving treatment at Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka.

Speaking, Ngozi Echeazu, the zonal coordinator of NEMA South-East, expressed sadness over the fire incident.

Ms Echeazu, represented by Shantel Chukwu from the NEMA office, said the visit enabled the agency to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of things damaged by the fire incident and commiserate with traders in the market.

“We have visited John-paul Ugwuanyi in Shanahan Hospital, who sustained injuries in some parts of his body; we are happy that he is responding to treatment. 

“NEMA will assist all traders affected in that fire incident so that they will go back to their business,” she said.

Chinasa Mbah, head of ESEMA, said it was Pius Ezeugwu, representing Nsukka East Constituency at Enugu State House of Assembly, who informed the agency about the fire incident.

“ESEMA and NEMA are here today to see things by ourselves and conduct on-the-spot assessment of things this unfortunate fire incident destroyed in this market.

“Our amiable governor, Mr Peter Mbah is deeply concerned and touched about this incident, he is waiting for our report, and we are sure that you will hear from him in no distant time,” she said.

In a remark, Linus Eze, chairman of the Afor-Opi Market Traders Association, who conducted ESEMA and NEMA officials around the affected market, said many shops were destroyed in the fire incident.

He lamented that the incident had put the affected traders into untold hardship as most of them had no other livelihood. 

Mr Eze appealed to local, state and federal governments to assist affected traders.

(NAN)