GSM Village Inferno: Kogi Assembly urges govt to provide palliatives to affected victims

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 I Bin-Ebaiya Shehu Tijjani and read on the floor of the House by the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Hon. 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, “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.

“So much has been invested by young men and women in developing the area and in bolstering information and technological knowledge. Today, all that has been destroyed by fire. I, therefore, wish to move praying the honourable House to resolve in urging the State Government to intervene in extenuating the loss incurred as a result of the fire outbreak”.

Seconding the motion, the member representing Ogori Magongo State Constituency, Hon Bode Ogunmola described the incident as painful ” It is regrettable that our young ones who are struggling to survive lost their investments today in Lokoja. I would recall that the previous administration bought firefighting vehicles. What has happened that the fire could not be curtailed quickly?

Ogunmola in an amended prayer called for a thorough investigation of the fire incident to guide against future occurrences.

While sympathizing with owners of the shops for the loss of their goods, the lawmaker representing Ajaokuta State Constituency, Abu Onoru-Oiza Jibrin in additional prayers urged the State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA) to carry out an on-the-spot assessment 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 directed the Clerk to convey the resolutions of the house to the Executive.