Fire Guts 3-Storey Building in Onitsha, Rep Member Donates N200,000 to Victim

By Praise Chinecherem

Property worth millions of naira were destroyed in a fire disaster at No 14 Uga Street by Sheba, Fegge Onitsha, Anambra state.

The incident which occured on Thursday destroyed industrial sewing machines and portion of the building.

Narrating his ordeal, one of the victims, Mr Jude who was using the topmost floor of the building for a mini Industrial sewing factory, attributed the fire to electricity surge.

“The fire started around 2:30 am as a result of electricity surge which was epileptic throughout Wednesday night. It was a terrible loss.

“The fire destroyed everything including seven industrial sewing machines which costs about N1.5 million each, 6 state sewing machines and unquantified cloth materials that runs into millions of naira,” he said.

The Landlord, Aaron Ezeobi lamented that he had been warning his tenant to discontinue using his residential building for business and workshop.

“I had previously served him with a quit notice which was due to expire by next month before the inferno. I’m pained because of the prevalent high cost of building materials,” he said.

Meanwhile, House of Representatives Member for Onitsha North & South Constituency, Hon. Engr Emeka Idu has sympathized with victims of the fire disaster.

Consoling both the Landlord of the building and the tenant, Idu encouraged them not to take their loss to heart to avoid health crisis.

He prayed God to grant them speedy recovery from the loss.

The lawmaker transfered the sum of N200,000 to Mr Jude, saying he would find out the costs of the industrial sewing machines to enable him offer further assistance.

Hon Idu also asked the Landlord to inform him as soon as the re-roofing of the burnt building commences to make his own financial contribution.

“Please hold yourself, do not think too much about your loss to avoid high blood pressure which can lead to stroke.

“The N200,000 is to hold yourself for now pending when you are ready to replace the sewing machines let us see how we can further assist you,” he assured.