Obiano inaugurates Ochanja Market Fire Investigative Committee

By Kingsley Ezekwelu

Chief Willie Obiano, the executive governor of Anambra state Thursday, inaugurated a committee charged with the responsibility of investigating the Ochanja central Market fire incident in line with his administration's commitment and resolve in creating enabling environment and to ensuring security of life and property in the state.

The committee which has as its chairman the traditional ruler of Nteje, Igwe Rowland Odegwo was inaugurated at the governor's lodge in Amawbia.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, the governor regretted the sad event. "When I got the information about the fire out break at Ochanja, I quickly rushed  to the market to see things by my self. In the cause of my visit, I  inspected some of the affected shops to have estimate of the extent of the damages that occurred".

Governor Obiano charged the committee to find out the remote causes of  the fire incident and make  recommendations on how to avert such ugly incidents in future. He further gave them 1month as a time frame to submit their report.

Speaking earlier, the commissioner for trade and commerce, Mr. Ifeatu Onyejeme commended the governor for his timely intervention in setting up  the investigating committee, calling on committee members to be objective and work within the ambits of their terms of reference and time frame to ensure successful and workable report.

In his vote of thanks, HRH Igwe Odegwo, thanked the governor for finding them worthy for the mandate, assuring of the readiness of the committee to make thorough investigation and report within the stipulated time frame.

It could be recalled that the fire incident which razed down the popular market last Monday led to the loss of goods worth millions of naira, injuring few persons and killing a fire fighter.

Members of the committee were drawn from different groups in the market and the Nigerian police.