Onitsha Market Fire: Anambra Hails Service for Responsiveness

The Anambra State Government has commended the state fire service for containing fire outbreaks throughout the state in a professional way.

In a letter by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, addressed to the Managing Director of the Anambra State Fire Service, Air Vice Marshall Ben Chiobi (rtd), the government specifically mentioned the agency's prompt response to the fire at the Onitsha Main Market on Wednesday afternoon.

“The reaction time of the fire service was superb and its handling of the fire at the Plaza Section of the internationally famous market  exceedingly impressive”, Adinuba said.

He noted that no lives were lost in the incident, despite the fact that the fire started in a place with plenty of combustible materials.

“Your men contained the fire no sooner than it began, making a lot of people in the great commercial city unaware there was such an incident”.

Adinuba also acknowledged cooperation from sister agencies in the state like the Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, noting that “it is the way to go especially in a place where there is cooperative federalism rather than unnecessary and debilitating rivalry among such agencies”.

The letter pointed out that the state fire service had displayed so much effectiveness and efficiency in battling infernos even in filling stations like the one at the Mobil facility in Awka on Christmas eve.

In Adinuba's words: “The gallantry exhibited by your men is as a result of the overhaul which your agency has undergone in the last three years since Governor Willie Obiano appointed you its Managing Director, provided critical equipment, hired more personnel for your agency, increased allowances to your men considerably and ensured better and regular training for them”.

The Commissioner also observed the passion and infectious leadership provided by the state Chief Fire Service Officer, Engineer Martin Agbili.

Agbili’s enthusiasm and professionalism, Adinuba stated, earned him such nicknames as “Agility”, “Ability”, and Ezeoku”, which enabled him to become the Chairman of the Anambra State Chapter of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE).

Adinuba advised Anambra people to disregard broadcasts by anonymous persons on the social media claiming that the fire at the Plaza Section of the Onitsha Main Market spread for several hours without response from the state Fire Service or the Federal Fire Service in the state.

He referred to the broadcasts as part of the ongoing disinformation campaign against the Anambra people by propaganda agents of politicians who lost out badly in the 6th November gubernatorial election, which the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, won overwhelmingly.