Date: 2018-03-29

...pledges government intervention Deputy Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Mathew Okedare has commiserated with the indigenes and business owners who lost goods and properties worth millions of naira to an inferno which occurred due to an accident in Jebba, Moro Local Government Area on Tuesday.

The unfortunate incident, it was gathered occurred as a result of break failure of a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit which rammed into another trailer loaded with new Bajaj motorcycles in his front before it somersaulted and caught fire.

The fire, apart from causing the death of 5 people had 5 vehicles, 9 motorcycles burnt beyond repairs also affected motor spare parts, phone accessories shops as well as residential buildings and a mosque.

While addressing the victims shortly after conducting on the spot assessment of the areas affected, Hon Okedare's representing Lanwa/Ejidongari Constituency expressed his sympathy to the people.

Lamenting the unfortunate incident, the legislator noted that Jebba indigenes were very enterprising as engage in any legal business that fetch their daily needs rather than being dependent on government.

Therefore, he called on both the Federal and State Governments to come to the victims' aid with palliative measures that would ameliorate their losses and sufferings.

This, the deputy speaker stressed, would encourage them to get back to their various businesses and improve the community's economy.

While admonishing the community to maintain calm and remain peaceful despite the incident, Okedare pledged to use his position to ensure that government attended to their plights in no distant time.

He also appreciated the quick response of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria and Jebba Paper Mills Fire Service Department which ensured that the fire did not escalate into the main town.

Earlier, one of the shop owners, Mr. Paul Mbonu rued his losses, disclosing that his goods worth millions of naira were lost to the inferno.

Mbonu, who called for immediate assistance from government and spirited individuals to cushion the fire incident effect on them, also appreciated the deputy speaker for his response to their plights.

Similarly, the representatives of the Motorcycle Riders Association and transport owners called for government urgent intervention, saying that majority of their members who lost their properties to the fire had borrowed loans from various cooperative societies.