Lawmaker Decries Absence of Standard Fire Service in Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara Constituency

 The Member representing Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Jerry Otu, has lamented the lack of a standard fire service in his constituency.

Otu made this known during an interaction with journalists shortly after presenting a matter of urgent public importance on the floor of the House on Tuesday.

Hon Jerry Otu in an interaction with newsmen 

His presentation followed a recent fire incident in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area that destroyed more than 15 shops and goods worth millions of naira.

In his words, “I believe that if we had a proper fire station, at least the percentage of the damage would have been reduced, but they had to wait for a vehicle from Uyo.”

He stated, “Ikot Ekpene doesn’t have a standard fire service, and the people are complaining that the head of the fire station there should be a professional, but unfortunately they don’t have such a person running the office.”

Otu added that he was working with the Executive Chairman of Ikot Ekpene to find a remedial measure while awaiting Governor Umo Eno, whom he described as compassionate, to send relief materials through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), which is headed by the Deputy Governor.

Earlier in his presentation, Hon. Otu, who chairs the House Committee on Information, noted that the natural disaster had caused untold hardship for the affected traders. He appealed to his colleagues to unite in calling on the state government to assist in alleviating their financial burdens and restoring their livelihoods.

He asserted that the fire outbreak had devastated traders who had stocked goods on credit or with loans in preparation for yuletide sales, and he prayed the House to seek urgent government intervention to bring succour to the victims.

“It is important to note that many of the affected traders had begun preparing for the end-of-year sales, utilising funds from their savings and loans from financial institutions, which adds to the urgency of this situation,” Otu stated.

He urged the Assembly to promptly draw the state government's attention to the plight of these traders and to seek intervention through SEMA to provide necessary relief materials and financial support.

In response, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Udeme Otong, directed the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Nsikak Abasi Orok, to communicate with the Deputy Governor's office on the need for intervention to support the fire victims.