Obiano gives 17 families N500, 000 each----73 families affected by the inferno

www.odogwublog.com reports that Governor Willie Obiano’s led Anambra state Government weekend handed cheques for five hundred thousand naira (N500,000) each to Seventeen (17) persons whose houses and apartments were destroyed during the February 15th fire disaster in Onitsha.

Presenting the cheques at governor's Lodge, Amawbia , Governor Obiano explained that the sum is for one year's house rent of the displaced victims and an additional 200, 000 naira to assist them procure basic things that they may require to resettle.
The governor identified some measures taken by his administration towards combating fire challenges in future to include procurement of 3 State of the art Fire fighting trucks of 10,000 litre water capacity each and compartment that has 750 litres of foam and 75 kg of powder as well as training of 200 medical personnel to assist with first aid treatment and evacuation in emergency situations.

These trucks he said,  will be positioned in Onitsha, Awka and Nnewi to serve the three Senatorial districts of the state.
According to him, processes have also commenced for the recruitment of 100 youths to make up for the shortfall in manpower of the State Fire Service.

Governor Obiano while commiserating with the victims over their loss, harped on the need for the citizenry to be safety conscious and to embrace insurance covers so as cushion the effects of any negative eventuality they may encounter.
Meanwhile, a preliminary report of an assessment committee set by Governor Obiano on the 16th of last month, to look into the immediate and remote causes of the inferno, find out the actual victims and proffer precautionary measures to avoid a recurrence of such disaster in future.
The Committee had in the report, identified a total of 73 persons who were affected including house owners, tenants, lawyers, business operators and petty traders, out of which the 17 persons were selected for the first phase of the intervention.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Chief Paul Odenigbo who is the Chairman of the Assessment Committee on the Fire Disaster, revealed that with the support of the state government, they are also working to develop strategies to improve the safety culture of the people, commending Governor Obiano for remaining true to his promise to support the fire victims.
In his remarks, the Anglican Bishop of Niger West, Right Reverend Johnson Ekwe who described Dr Obiano a visionary governor per excellence, said there is so much other leaders in the country can copy from him, especially as it concerns exemplifying governance with a human face.
In their separate remarks, some of the victims who included Mr Nduka Alor and Mrs Joana Oboli thanked Governor for coming to their rescue, saying that through the gesture, he has shown that issues that border on the people's welfare is of great concern to him.