Nelson A.Osuala [6 January 2017]
The recent cases of fire outbreak in the capital city of Akwa Ibom state has called for serious concerns and critical examination.
It appears to my mind that the Uyo community in akwa ibom state is under seige!
It has been garnered that the Nigerian Bottling Company depot in Uyo was on Wednesday taken over in an inferno, which according to veritable reports destroyed goods and property worth millions.
Although, there seems to be no news on the actual cause of the fire but our correspondence, gathered from an eyewitness, Mr. Charles Ekong, who purported that the fire was triggered by a spark from an enclosed space, where pallets were kept.
Describing the inferno,Ekong avers that “The fire was serious. If not for the quick intervention of the state fire fighters, it would have consumed the entire depot.”
Further reports from the State Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Ndarake Ukpe, has it that the intensity and enormity of the fire, led to a convergence of virtually all firefighters from neighbouring communities and local governments such as Ikot Ekpene, Abak and Akpan Andem as they were all mobilised to join their Uyo counterparts in putting out the fire.
In Mr Ukpe's remark, "Fire does not just happen; it is caused by carelessness and fake electrical installations in our buildings.
Prior to this time, our correspondent gathered that between Christmas Day and Wednesday, January 4, 2017, three major fire incidents were reported to have occurred in Uyo metropolis.
"On Christmas Day, the home of the state Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang-Eyen, was gutted by fire,which unfortunately destroyed his invaluable certificates and some other property worth millions.
As if that was not enough, another fire incidence occurred On Monday December 26, 2016, a Seamtress on Etim Usanga Street, lost all her belongings to a fire that consumed her two-room apartment".
We thereby call in the Government of Akwa Ibom state to look into this incessant fire outbreaks so as to remedy her adverse effect on the masses.
Source: Punch
Nelson A.Osuala
Is a Blogger & the Associate Editor of Negroidhaven.org
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