Anambra State Assembly Inaugurates Committee On Onitsha Tanker Fire

A committee has been set up by the Anambra State House of Assembly to look into the Onitsha fire incident which occurred on Thursday resulting to the death of a woman, a child and destruction of properties.

The committee was set up following a motion raised under Matters of Urgent Public Importance by  Edward Ibuzor (Onitsha North II), at an emergency plenary in Awka.

Fire had on Wednesday engulfed buildings and shops at Ochanja market, Upper Iweka in Onitsha, after a 33,000 litre diesel tanker fell and caught fire.

Ibuzor Moving the motion said, the committee would ascertain the cause of the fire and recommend remedial measures in prevention of such occurrence in future.

“We have an oversight duty to unravel the cause of the fire incident to help provide closure for the affected persons and come up with lasting solution to prevent this kind of tragedy”.

The Lawmaker representing Orumba North, Emeka Aforka said the fire incident had brought untold hardship, fear and agony to residents in the state.

“This tragedy did not just affect residents of Anambra, it has affected all Nigerians who patronize and rely on Onitsha market for their goods and services,”

The incident was described as unfortunate by Tim Ifedioranma (Njikoka I) while he urged the Federal Government to support the state government to provide relief for victims.

The Speaker of the House, Uche Okafor sympathized with victims and urged the House Committee on Public Utilities chaired by Chidi Udemmadu, to take up the investigation of the fire incident with report to the House in one week.