Kogi Assembly seeks palliative for Lokoja fire victims

The Kogi State House of Assembly has urged the State Government to intervene and alleviate the losses incurred from the fire outbreak at the GSM village around Kpata Market in Lokoja, which destroyed goods worth millions of naira on Thursday.

In a matter of urgent public importance moved by the lawmaker representing Lokoja I, Bin-Ebaiya Tijjani, and read on the floor of the House by the Majority Leader, Suleiman Abdulrazak, it was explained that the GSM Village is akin to Information Technology parks, where activities concerning Information and Communication Technology thrive, and where private individuals invest in electronic equipment and creative services for the repair and maintenance of ICT facilities.

According to the lawmaker, “The Speaker, distinguished honourable colleagues, it is with deep sorrow that I rise to announce a tragedy that occurred in the early hours of today—a fire outbreak that has destroyed the GSM village situated directly opposite the JAIZ Bank here in Lokoja.

“So much has been invested by young men and women in developing the area and bolstering information and technological knowledge. Today, all that has been destroyed by fire. I, therefore, wish to move that the honourable House resolves to urge the State Government to intervene and mitigate the losses incurred due to the fire outbreak.”

Seconding the motion, the member representing Ogori Magongo State Constituency, Bode Ogunmola, described the incident as painful, stating, “It is regrettable that our young people, who are struggling to survive, lost their investments today in Lokoja. I recall that the previous administration purchased fire-fighting vehicles. What happened that the fire could not be contained quickly?”
Ogunmola, in an amended prayer, called for a thorough investigation of the fire incident to prevent future occurrences.

While sympathising with the shop owners for the loss of their goods, the lawmaker representing Ajaokuta State Constituency, Abu Onoru-Oiza Jibrin, in an additional prayer, urged the State Emergency Management Agency to carry out an on-the-spot assessment and recommend immediate palliatives to the government to mitigate the effects of the fire on those whose goods were destroyed.

The Speaker, Aliyu Yusuf, directed the Clerk to convey the resolutions of the House to the Executive.