GSM Village Fire Outbreak: Kogi Assembly Urges Govt. to Provide Palliatives to Affected Victims

Bashir Opaluwa Idris 

The Kogi State House of Assembly has urged the State Government to intervene in extenuating the loss incurred as a result of the fire outbreak at the GSM village around Kpata market in Lokoja which destroyed goods worth millions of naira.

In a matter of urgent public importance moved by the Lawmaker representing LoKoja One Constituency, Bin-Ebaiya Shehu-Tijjani and read on the floor of the House by the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Suleiman Abdulrazak, explained that the GSM Village is likened to Information Technology parks where activities concerning Information and Communication Technology (ICT) strives and where private individuals invest in procuring electronic equipment as well as a park where creative services in repairs and maintenance of ICT facilities take place.

According to the lawmaker, so much has been invested by the young men and women in developing the State and in bolstering information and technological knowledge.

"The Rt. Hon. Speaker, distinguished honourable colleagues, it is with deep sense of sorrow that I rise before you to announce a tragedy that occurred at the early hours of today, a fire outbreak that has destroyed the GSM village situated directly opposite the JAIZ Bank, here in Lokoja. 

While commiserate with victims of the ugly disaster, Bin Ebaiya Shehu-Tijani called on the State Emergency Management Agency to as a matter of urgency take an on the spot assessment to assertain the level of destruction and properties lost in a view to amoilerate the victims.  

Seconding the motion, the member representing Ogori Magongo State Constituency, Bode Ogunmola called for a thorough investigation of the fire incident to guide against future occurrence.

While sympathizing with owners of the shops for the loss of their goods, the lawmaker representing Ajaokuta State Constituency, Jibril Abuh in an additional prayers urged the State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA) to carry out an on the spot assessment so as to recommend to government immediate palliatives to cushion the effects of the fire incident on those whose goods were burnt down.

The Speaker, Aliyu Umar Yusuf in his ruling, directed the Clerk to convey the resolutions of the house to the Executive.