Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti on Friday, visited the Obingwa Local Government Area for an on-the-spot assessment of the fire incident that engulfed a section of the Local Government Council.
National Ambassador gathered that the fire incident which started around 5am on Thursday morning, engulfed the Court Section housing the Court registry, Works Department and National Youth Council Buildings.
Addressing Journalists at the scene, Governor Otti expressed gratitude that no lives were lost, although valuable court properties were destroyed in the inferno.
“We thank God that no life was lost, even though properties, particularly belonging to the court, were burnt. I am happy that we didn’t lose anybody,” Governor Otti stated.
The Governor directed the Mayor of Obingwa to immediately enhance security around the premises and emphasized the need to fence the premises to prevent unauthorized access.
He announced the deployment of Armed Security Personnel to the Local Government Council Secretariat and stressed that henceforth, the facility would have a single entry and exit point to enhance security control.
“I have given clear instructions to the Mayor on how to secure this place, it has to be fenced round and trespasses will not be allowed going forward.
“We have to deploy Armed Security to this place, the idea would be that there would be only one entrance and one exit.
“It is still early days, investigations are going on and by the time investigations are through, we will know what was the cause of the fire incident”, Gov Otti said.
He also commended the swift response of the Abia State Homeland Security led by the SA on Homeland Security, Fire and Emergencies, Mr Chinenye Alajemba in tackling the fire.
Governor Otti who however acknowledged delays in response time due to the unavailability of a fire truck in the Local Government Council, directed the Homeland Security Boss to ensure that each LGA in the State have access to at least one fire truck.
“I have also instructed him (Alajemba) to make arrangements so that every Local Government Area in the State would have access to one truck so that the response time would be reduced.
“I believe that the fire truck came from Aba and it took some time to come from Aba to this place”, Governor Otti noted.
The Governor who used the opportunity to remind residents that his administration had already initiated the construction of new Court Halls across all 17 LGAs of the State, expressed concerns about the pace of work at the Obingwa Council Secretariat and urged the contractor to accelerate efforts.
“I have instructed the Mayor to put pressure on the contractor because he seems to be lagging behind.
“Some of the ones I’ve seen are at lintel levels and getting close to roofing, though they all started at the same time,” Gov Otti stated.
He appreciated Abia residents for their continued support for his administration and assured that his Government is committed to giving the people the much desired democracy dividends.
Conducting the Governor round the affected building, the Mayor of Obingwa LGA , Hon. Maxwell Nwadike narrated that the inferno happened in the early hours of yesterday (Thursday), adding that he was alerted by Corps Members serving in the Council headquarters.
“It was in the early hours of yesterday (Thursday) precisely, around 5am that I was told that the place is on fire.
“It was the Youth Corpers that alerted me and immediately we swung into action and called the Home Land Security”, Hon. Nwadike narrated.
Hon. Maxwell Nwadike, who disclosed that the fire affected Court registry, Works Department and National Youth Council buildings, added that the level of damages were yet to be ascertained.
He said that within the next one week details of the property and items damaged would be ascertained adding that he is setting up an investigative Committee to that effect.
The Mayor thanked Governor Alex Otti for coming to see things by himself and appreciated the home land security for responding swiftly.
