Soludo raises panel over Onitsha drug market fire…

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has appointed a 9-man panel of inquiry, to look into the remote and immediate causes of the inferno at Onitsha Brigade head drug market and ways of avoiding future occurrence.

The panel, which has its name as, ‘Fire Disaster and Kindred Matters Committee,’ is headed by a member of the Bridgehead market caretaker committee and former gubernatorial candidate of National Conscience Party (NCP), Peter Okala.

Frank Udemadu, who was former secretary of Onitsha Patent and Proprietory Medicine Dealers Association (OPPMDA) will serve as secretary of the panel.

The panel was aimed at ensuring better welfare for victims of the November 8, 2022 fire disaster at the Onitsha Bridgehead drug market, in which eight people lost their lives and properties estimated to run into several millions of naira destroyed.

The governor, who made the appointment through the caretaker committee chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area, Emeka Orji, said that the committee has four weeks to present its report to the council chairman, for onward submission to the governor.

Making this disclosure to newsmen in Onitsha on Tuesday, Okala said that the terms of reference included, establishment of remote and immediate causes of the inferno, quantity of lives and properties lost, advice to government on how to avert future occurrence and emergency management in both the market and other markets in the state.

Okala further said that members of the committee comprised men of sterling qualities who are or have been market leaders at the Oniitsha Bridgehead market and have traded there for over 30 years.

He named the members to include, Peter Okala as chairman, Frank Udemadu, secretary, Ikechukw Orizu, Donatus Ajanma, Samuel Nzeobi, Kelvin Ibelo, Nerus Nwanze, Ikenna Umeh and Chigozie Ezenwanne, as members.