Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Joshua Chinedu Obika, has visited traders affected by the fire outbreak at Eda Plaza, Jabi, Abuja, offering financial assistance and pledging further support to help them recover from the losses.
The early-morning fire, which reportedly started around 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, razed several shops and stores, including outlets dealing in building materials. Firefighters were said to have contained the blaze at about 10:14 a.m.
Although millions of naira worth of goods and property were destroyed, no life was reportedly lost.
Obika, who expressed sympathy with the affected traders, described the incident as a major setback for the victims and stressed the need for stronger measures to protect businesses against disasters.
He said he would explore partnerships that could facilitate insurance coverage for traders and provide additional support for businesses affected by fire and other unforeseen incidents.
The lawmaker also pledged to pursue initiatives to improve access to fire extinguishers and other basic firefighting equipment in markets across the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Bwari Federal Constituency.
According to him, proactive fire-prevention measures are essential to safeguarding lives, businesses and the livelihoods of traders.
Also present during the visit was the Special Assistant on Markets, Prince Maxi, who sympathised with the victims and made financial contributions towards their immediate needs.
The affected traders used the opportunity to brief the lawmaker on the extent of their losses and appeal for additional assistance as they begin the difficult process of rebuilding their businesses.
Obika assured the victims that he would continue to draw attention to their plight, particularly through initiatives focused on disaster prevention, insurance protection and improved fire-safety preparedness in markets.
