By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The umbrella body of Aba Landed Property Owners , the Aba Landlord Protection and Development Association ALPADA, on Saturday April 5, 2025, expressed its unflinching support and cooperation to the Abia State Government’s commitment towards ensuring that every building in the State, particularly, the commercial hub Aba is equipped with a fire fighting device.
The Source reports that Governor Alex Otti, on a sympathy visit to the victims of an inferno that razed a two story building in Aba on Friday April 4, 2025, announced that plans are underway for every building in the city to have a fire extinguisher.
According to the Governor, the idea is to ensure that residents are properly equipped to attend to emergency situations such as fire outbreaks.
The Governor who was accompanied on the visit to the building located at number 73 Lagos Street by the Mayor of the Aba South Metropolitan Council, Hon Obialor Anyanwu, was deeply moved by the devastation wrought by the early morning inferno.
The two storey residential building was completely razed with the occupants unable to recover any tangible property.
The Governor expressed shock and sadness over the huge loss incurred by both the owner of the property, Vincent Uzuegbu, and the occupants.
“My dear people of Aba, I am deeply saddened by this tragic event. I understand the pain and sense of loss that come with such disasters.
“As your Governor, I want to assure you that we will do everything in our capacity to support the victims and prevent such incidents in the future by way of ensuring that every home gets a fire extinguisher.
“We will however provide immediate reliefs to those affected, including temporary shelter, and financial assistance to ameliorate their sufferings.
“We will also conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause (s) of the fire outbreak and take measures to prevent similar incidents”, Governor Otti stated.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its President General, Sir Alphonsus Udeigbo, the Aba Landlord Association lauded the Governor for his prompt intervention and decision to identify with the victims of the inferno including the owner of the building.
The body expressed its readiness to support and collaborate with the State Government in ensuring that every building and home in the commercial nerve centre is equipped with adequate fire fighting device.
The ALPADA leadership identified fire outbreaks and their devastating effects as one of the factors threatening businesses in the commercial city
“We want to express our sincere appreciation to His Excellency,the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, for promptly identifying with the victims of the fire incident at one of our member”s building on Lagos Street,Aba.
“Particularly, we are happy with his promise of providing succour for the victims, including temporary accommodation.
“We, also, want to assure His Excellency of the readiness of ALPADA to fully support the idea of ensuring that every building has a fire extinguisher.
“We are immensely grateful, for the unprecedented level of empathy which the Governor has so far shown to the victims, the property owner, and the Aba residents as a whole.
“We are unwaveringly committed to partnering with the State Government to reduce to the barest minimum incidents of fire outbreak in the State.
“One of the greatest problems facing us – Landlords, and even businesses in Aba is that of fire outbreaks.
“This is because when the fire incident occurs the victims always lose everything. Reason being that they are always helpless in controlling the situation.
“So we are overjoyed by the Governor’s promise of ensuring that every building gets a fire extinguisher”, Chief Udeigbo stated.
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