The Cross River State representative on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Rt. Hon. Orok Otu Duke, has called for the recovery of fire service trucks allegedly found at the private residence of a former government official in the state.
Duke made the call while reacting to the fire outbreak which gutted sections of the SPAR Mall, also known as Calabar Mall, in the early hours of Saturday.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the NDDC board member said the trucks, if recovered, should be added to the fleet of the Cross River State-owned Fire Service to strengthen the state’s capacity to respond to emergencies.
“I also wish that some of the Fire Service Trucks that were recently discovered in the private residence of a former government official could be recovered and added to the fleet of CRS-owned Fire Service Trucks,” Duke said.
The call came against the backdrop of the fire incident at the popular shopping mall, which affected traders, shop owners and businesses operating within the facility.
Duke expressed concern over the incident and sympathised with the management of Artee Group/SPAR Mall Nigeria, affected traders, workers and other persons who suffered losses.
He, however, noted that no life was lost and no serious injury was recorded in the incident, describing the development as a source of relief.
The NDDC representative commended the Cross River State Fire Service, the Nigeria Police Force and other security and emergency agencies for their efforts in containing the blaze, securing the premises and preventing further damage and looting.
He also called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire, saying preliminary reports indicated a possible electrical fault.
Duke urged the relevant authorities to conduct a transparent and expeditious inquiry into the incident, stressing that the findings would help prevent a recurrence and improve the safety of lives and property in commercial centres.
He said the fire incident had highlighted the need for stronger emergency-response capacity in the state, particularly as commercial centres such as SPAR Mall serve as important economic hubs for Calabar and Cross River State.
The NDDC representative further said he was prepared to support coordinated efforts by the Cross River State Government and other stakeholders to provide relief and facilitate the recovery of businesses affected by the fire.
He urged corporate organisations, individuals and other stakeholders to support those who lost their goods and investments in the incident.
Duke also recalled his intervention during the 2020 #EndSARS protests, saying he had mobilised citizens of Ward 1, Calabar South, and personally relocated to protect the SPAR facility during the unrest.
He prayed for the affected businesses and individuals to have the strength to rebuild their livelihoods.
