Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti on Friday visited the Obingwa Council Headquarters for an on the spot assessment of the fire incident that razed the Court registry, Works Department and National Youth Council buildings of the council headquarters.
Speaking at the inferno site, Governor Alex Otti who regretted that equipment and office items were lost during the incident but thanked God that no life was lost during the inferno.
“We thank God that no life was lost even though properties particularly belonging to the court were burnt. I am happy that we didn’t lose anybody,” Gov. Otti stated.
The Governor directed the Mayor of Obingwa LGA Hon. Maxwell Nwadike to make adequate arrangement to fence the council headquarters to ensure that only one entrance and exit exist in the council to avoid trespassing. He added that armed security personnel would be equally deployed to secure the place.
“I have given clear instructions to the Mayor on how to secure this place, it has to be fenced round and trespassing will not be allowed going forward.
“We have to deploy armed security to this place, the idea would be that there would be only one entrance and one exit.
“It is still early days, investigations are going on and by the time investigations are through, we will know the cause of the fire incident,” Gov. Otti stated.
He noted that his administration had long flagged off the construction of new court halls across all the 17 local government areas and further instructed the Mayor to put pressure on the contractor handling the Obingwa Local Government Court Hall to expedite action on the project.
“He (the contractor) seems to be lagging behind. Some of the ones that I’ve seen are at lintel levels and getting close to roofing though they all started the same time. He needs to put pressure on him,” Gov Otti directed.
Governor Otti used the opportunity to thank his Special Assistant on Homeland Security, Fire and Emergency, Mr. Chinenye Anajemba for responding quickly to the distress call. He also instructed the Homeland security boss to make arrangements so that every local government area in the State would have one fire truck so that the response time would be reduced.
“I believe that the fire truck came from Aba and it took some time to come from Aba to this place. Having said that, I thank God that it wasn’t worse than this,” he stated
The Governor thanked Abia residents for their continued support to his administration, assuring them that the State government is committed to giving the people the much desired democratic dividends.
Conducting the Governor round the affected building, the Mayor of Obingwa LGA, Hon. Maxwell Nwadike narrated that the inferno happened in the early hours of yesterday (Thursday), adding that he was alerted by the youth corps members.
“It was in the early hours of yesterday (Thursday) precisely, around 5am that I was told that the place is on fire.
“It was the youth corps members that alerted me and immediately we swing into action and called the home land security. The SSA to the Governor on Homeland security. I commend him (SSA) for responding immediately, if not, we would have had a lot of damages,” Hon. Nwadike narrated.
Hon. Maxwell Nwadike, who disclosed that the fire affected the Court registry, Works Department and National Youth Council buildings, added that the level of damages were yet to be ascertained. He said that within the next one week details of the property and items damage would be ascertained as he is setting up an investigative committee to that effect.
The Mayor thanked Governor Alex Otti for coming to see things by himself and appreciated the home land security for responding quickly.
Ctz. UKOHA NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
07 – 02 – 2025.
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