By Jonathan Lois
The House of Representatives has urged the National Emergency Management Agency of Nigeria (NEMA) and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to immediately send relief materials to traders affected by the Karu fire incident in Abuja.
The House further urged the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to provide grants and start-up capitals to the affected Traders to enable them start afresh.
It resolved to vote N100, 000, 000 from the six months’ 50% salary pledge to support the victims.
The House mandated the Committees on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters, Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Small and Medium Enterprises Development of Nigeria and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.
This resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance on the devastating impact of the inferno that ravaged Karu Market in Abuja.
It was sponsored by Hon. Fred Agbedi, Yeitiemone Frederick Hon. Peter Akpanke Hon. Joshua Chinedu Obika Hon. Soli Sada Hon. Peter Ifeanyi Uzokwe Hon. Kwamoti Bitrus Laori and 42 others.
The House noted that on Thursday 27th June 2024, the Traders and entire Karu community of Abuja Municipal Area Council were thrown into confusion and anguish, owing to the fire outbreak that ravaged the popular Karu Market in Karu, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Federal Capital Territory resulting in the destruction of goods and other properties worth millions of Naira.
It also noted that the fire incident destroyed most of the structures, goods and facilities in that part of the market leaving the traders traumatized by the effect of the disaster.
It noted that all efforts by the Fire Services and other good Nigerians to contain the fire proved abortive.
The House was disturbed that this is the main market that serves the karu community and its environs, thus the fire incident has led to the loss of a greater part of the market, loss of earnings for about 1400 persons whose main source of income was trading in this market.
The House said it was aqware that no citizen of Nigeria should be allowed to wallow in hopelessness, and the fact that, they are our hosts in AMAC, FCT, there is urgent need to bring relief to the affected to cushion the effect.
