Committee uncovers causes of fire outbreaks in Warri Market

A nine- member committee set up by Warri South Local Government Council to ascertain the cause(s) of incessant fire outbreaks at Ogbe- Ijoh Market, Warri, has identified illegal sale of inflammables such as kerosene and the use of substandard electrical materials such as cables in connecting electricity to some shops, as causes of the most recent as well as the last two previous fire outbreaks in the market.

Chairman of the Committee, Builder Ekeleni Godwin in a remark before presenting the detailed report to Warri South Local Government Chairman, Dr. Michael Tidi Tuesday January 8, noted that the out- come of the panel was after public hearing and one- on- one engagements with the affected traders as well as other stakeholders.

The committee’s report revealed that the pattern and spread of the fire suggested that there could be some ulterior motives, while there are a lot of unknown people doing business in the market at nights and their activities could be responsible for the recurrent fire outbreaks.

The panel which comprises of chairman of the market traders’ union, head of Fire Service, Warri and has Prince Raymond Emiko as Secretary among others, recommended barn of sale of any kind of inflammable liquid in the market such as diesel and petrol or its sectionalization to avert future fire outbreaks.

Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr. Michael Tidi who spoke after receiving the report, disclosed plans by his administration to constitute management committee to oversee the market which has been handed over to the council by the state government, adding that it is part of efforts to set up proper administrative structure in the market.

Dr. Tidi emphasized that his administration has the political will to implement findings of the committee, assuring that sanity will be brought to the market within the ambit of the law.

Dr. Michael Tidi (5^th right) Mr. Godwin Ekeleni (4^th right) Prince Raymond Emiko (left) Mr. Oribioye Uwale (2^nd left) & others 

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