NEMA cautions Anambra traders against use of combustible materials

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned traders operating in markets within Anambra state to stop keeping inflammable materials within their shops to check incessant cases of fire outbreaks.

The South-East NEMA Zonal officer Mr Kingsley Okoro gave the warning during a joint assessment visit to Automobile Spare

Parts Market, Obosi, Idemili North of Anambra state by the agency in collaboration with Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) yesterday.

He said findings by emergency workers shows that careless handling of inflammable materials constitutes major cause of fire outbreak recorded in the state in recent times.

He expressed regret that goods worth several millions of naira were consumed by the inferno which affected the Jide zone section of Auto Spare Parts Obosi on January 11 2020.

“After our assessment, we ascertained that a total of 672 traders including 647 males, and 25 females were directly affected by the fire outbreak of January 11 at Auto Spare Parts Market, Obosi,” he noted.

A director with SEMA, Mr Chukwudi Ezekwe in a remark said the state government grieves with the traders in view of the magnitude of damage recorded in the Obosi auto spare parts market.

Chairman of Auto Spare Parts Market Obosi, Chief Ogbuefi Ezeobodo who spoke on behalf of the traders, said apart from the goods gutted by fire, one Godwin Edozieuno died as a result of shock, while six others sustained various degrees of injuries.