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Anguish As Fire Destroys N3bn Goods in Enugu
10,000 traders affected
From Francis Ugwoke in Enugu
It was a sad moment for traders at the Enugu Timber Market, Maryland, as a midnight fire destroyed goods estimated at over N3billion.
The fire incident started in the night of Tuesday and lasted till yesterday morning, destroying more than half of the large market.
Apart from the wood, machines used by the traders, including shops were all razed down.
The fire incident which eye witness account said started at about 8pm in one of the timber shops spread to the entire market at a time when all the traders had gone home.
Sympathisers, including traders described the fire incident as the worst disaster that had befallen the people of Enugu in the past 10 years, affecting over 10,000 traders whose source of livelihood derived from the market.
It was gathered that though the securitymen at the market had alerted the State Fire Service which was given 10 new fire fighting vehicles about a month ago, the officers did not arrive till about 10 pm when a greater part of the market had been consumed by the fire.
Even after the arrival of the fire fighting officers, they could not help matters as they soon ran out of water, a development that left the rescue operation in the hands of residents who were attracted by the incident.When THISDAY visited the market in the morning noticed that more than half of the large market had been burnt down.
Thousands of traders who had arrived the market were seen lamenting their losses, adding that this was the same problem they suffered about 10 years ago when half of the entire market was razed down.
The Vice Chairman of Timber Dealers Association, Chief Chris Nwadiuko, who conducted the Enugu South Council Chairman, Sam Ngene, round the fire ravaged market yesterday said that somehow divine providence saved the entire market from being
gutted.
He accused men of the Fire Service of the state of dereliction of duty, adding that if they had arrived on time with enough facilities, the situation would have been saved..
Nwadialo said, “These people came here almost with nothing and you can imagine what could have happened if not for residents who trooped from all parts of the to help out. I believe the government should try as decentralise the operation of the firemen in the state and giver them enough training because what happened here shows that they can’t even operate the new machines”.
The local government boss, Ngene, who consoled the traders said that he never rested the whole of Tuesday night as he mobilised for rescue operation in the market.
“The local government council will do all in her powers to assist you. We will call attention of state government to the situation here and I assure you, a listening government as that of Governor Chime will certainly do something about this place”, he said.
One of the victims, Mr Okey Mbanefo disclosed that he lost over six machines used for different operations in the market as a result of the fire incident.
Source: This Day, 26th March 2009.
Fire guts Enugu timber market
From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu
ABOUT 500 shops and goods estimated at over N3 billion were Tuesday night gutted in a fire outbreak that occurred at the Enugu Timber Market.
The incident, which started about 9.00pm, after the traders had closed for the day's business, razed more than half of the market believed to be the largest in the city.
An eye witnesses told The Guardian yesterday morning that the inferno, which also consumed giant milling machines of various types, push trucks and unspecified amount of cash, was first noticed from one of the Timber Shops located in the market, but quickly spread to other parts of the market before it was put out.
He wondered how the fire came about since electricity supply to the market was severed in the last three days following upgrading of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) facilities around the areas.
Enugu South Council Chairman, Sam Ngene, who rushed to the scene of the disaster and witnessed the fire as it ravaged property, described the incident as a calamity.
Source: The Guardian, 26th March 2009.
Enugu refutes N2b car claims
THE Enugu government has denied the report that it plans to buy official cars for 80 traditional rulers in the state at the cost of N2 billion.
In a statement, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dan Nwomeh, said the report published in a national newspaper (not The Guardian), was "a calculated attempt to cause mischief" and incite the good citizens of the state against the government.
Nwomeh wrote: "The report had claimed that the 80 cars cost a princely sum of N2 billion, with the price of each of them put at N2.5 million. Were the reporter not in a hurry to pin the stigma of financial recklessness on the state governor, he would have known that 80 cars, at a cost of N2.5 million each, amount to N200 million".
Nwomeh expressed displeasure that his own reaction to the story was "not fully" reflected in the piece.
He said even though he admitted that the government was liaising with the state Traditional Rulers' Council on possible ways of raising the status of the monarchs, the issue of car loan was still being considered while no particular brand of car had even been discussed.
Source: The Guardian, 24th March 2009.
Why Enugu Opted For City Taxi Scheme, By Official
From Leo Sobechi, Abakaliki
ENUGU State Government has said it introduced the new urban taxi system in the state to alleviate the sufferings of the people and optimise the more than 250 asphalt roads constructed or rehabilitated by the Sullivan Chime administration.
Commissioner of Transport, Ozo Luke Mmamel, who spoke with The Guardian in his office, alleged that past administrations had neglected the state roads, which deteriorated and became impassable, prompting taxi drivers to abandon them and leaving room for commercial motorcycles to thrive as means of transport within the capital city.
His words: "When the governor embarked upon and completed the construction of 250 asphalt roads, the next question was what kind of business would attract returns on the investment?
"We decided to bring back the taxi scheme to Enugu as a poverty alleviation strategy and we started the system by injecting 200 air-conditioned Nissan Sunny cars to kick start the programme," the commissioner stated.
Mmamel added that as a democrat who loved private sector partnership, Governor Chime invited the Umuchinemere Community Bank to help the state government recover the N440 million it spent on the scheme pointing out that operators of the taxis are expected to own the vehicles after completing payment for them.
He stressed that the state government wanted to prevent middlemen from hijacking the system. The taxis have rooftop advertisement space, which could be bought by companies and the proceeds shared between the operators and government.
The commissioner disclosed that the state government was expecting some 250 Suzuki ALTO fuel efficient vehicles to shore up the scheme.
He debunked allegations by the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) of unilateral decision by the state government to start the new taxi system without involving stakeholders.
Mmamel said all stakeholders were involved and alleged that the NURTW leaders only wanted to dominate the scheme, which the government opposed.
His words: "Cost of the taxi cabs, including durability was put into consideration. It was discovered that NURTW wanted to take full control of the system."
He put the unit cost of each vehicle at N2.2 million in addition to the management cost of N20,000 per annum and comprehensive insurance.
The commissioner disclosed that the cabs have a tracking system to ensure that they do not exceed the municipal boundaries, as their services are restricted to Enugu, where they have a central maintenance workshop at the ministry of transport.
Source: The Guardian, 14th March 2009.
Enugu PDP Okays Chime For Second Term
No Rift In Ebeano, Says Nnamani
From Lawrence Njoku (Enugu) and Samso Ezea (Lagos)
THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State yesterday sealed the chances of her members who may wish to vie for governorship ticket of the party in the 2011 election when it endorsed the candidature of incumbent Governor, Sullivan Chime for the position till 2015.
In reaching the decision, the party relied on the performance of the governor so far in office, the peace that had prevailed in the state under his administration as well as his contribution to the growth of the party in the state.
In a statement released in Enugu yesterday after its first State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting, the party also adopted "Sullivan Chirigaba", meaning Sullivan should continue with his good leadership till 2015 as its new slogan in the state.
The statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Dr. Okey Eze also approved a seven-man disciplinary committee to deal with issues of indiscipline, fair hearing and due process as it concerns her members.
Those in the committee include COC Egungbe as Chairman (Enugu West Zone) with Chief Gabriel Nnaji (Enugu East), Pascal Okoloagu (Enugu North), David Aja (Enugu West), Chijioke Edeoga (Enugu East), Mrs. Christiana N. Nnadi (Enugu North) as members, while Mr. Cyril Onu (Enugu North) is the Secretary.
The meeting also approved the constitution of a high- powered committee on the implementation of the party's manifesto, with focus on economic and developmental projects, which would act as a benchmark for assessing the performance of political office holders, especially in the local councils, which are closer to the grassroots.
The party also constituted a special committee on the building of a state secretariat under the chairmanship of Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, which it also urged to seek funds for the realisation of the project.
It approved the year 2009 budget of the party and requested the State Working Committee to ensure adequate implementation of the deduction of five percent annual basic salary of government officials as stipulated in its constitution for the running of the party.
The meeting, which was attended by the Deputy Governor Sunday Onyebuchi and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Eugene Odoh, among others, also endorsed the party leadership under Engr. Vita Abba for the manner in which it had handled the affairs of the party.
Meanwhile, former governor of the state, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani has insisted that the Ebeano political group, which he founded, intact despite minor differences among some members.
In his reaction to a recent report on former governors by The Guardian, Nnamani, now a serving senator representing Enugu East said: "For the avoidance of doubt, the Ebeano political family, which by the grace of God, I initiated and nurtured, is still intact and alive in Enugu State. The political structure, which produced the incumbent Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Governor Sullivan Chime and Senator Ayogu Eze, among others, without being immodest, cannot be wished away."
He stressed that there is no rift between him and the two other senators from the state or any other senator for that matter, saying they are not sworn enemies.
Source: The Guardian, 14th March 2009.
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