Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, extended his condolences to the traders of Ariaria International Market in Aba, following a devastating fire that broke out on Saturday night and continued into the early hours of Sunday.
Governor Otti expressed deep sympathy to the affected traders, who reportedly suffered significant losses amounting to hundreds of millions of naira due to the fire that engulfed the Power Line section of the market.
While there were reports attributing the fire to unstable power supply, the governor took immediate action by sending the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Chimezie Ukaegbu, and the Senior Special Assistant on Aba Rejuvenation, Uche Ukeje, to assess the situation on-site and provide him with a detailed report.
Governor Otti emphasized that the findings from these senior officials would inform the government’s next steps in preventing a recurrence of such a tragic incident. Additionally, he pledged to assist the affected traders in mitigating their losses.
The governor assured the traders and the Ariaria market leadership that his administration remains committed to enhancing the well-being and safety of both traders and visitors. He expressed gratitude to God that no lives were lost in the fire, acknowledging that only material possessions and recoverable items were destroyed.