The governor of Rivers state, Barrister Nyesom Wije, has approved the sum of N400,000 each for 213 traders and N 300,000 each for 200 others who are victims of the inferno that gutted the popular fruit market situated at Kaduna street in the heart of Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, according to a statement issued by Simeon Nwakaudu – Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media.
According to the statement, the governor also ordered the immediate reconstruction of the market.
The market was gutted by fire on the 28th of September, 2018 and goods worth millions of naira were destroyed.
The cause of the fire was not ascertained, but traders attributed the huge loss to delay by fire fighters to arrive at the scene.
The incident prompted an investigation into emergency response time in Nigeria by pan african online news giant, REPORTS AFRIQUE with findings published in an online video news.
Visiting the scene of the incident, Wike assured traders of government support. A promise he has kept with this recent development.
Here is the governor’s statement in full:
GOVERNOR WIKE APPROVES IMMEDIATE CONSTRUCTION OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES MARKET, PORT HARCOURT
▪approves release of compensation to affected traders
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has approved the immediate construction of the Fruits and Vegetables Market in D/Line, which was gutted by fire recently.
The governor also approved the release of compensation to traders who were affected by the inferno at the market.
In an interview on Friday, Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor on Special Projects, Dax George Kerley stated that the contractors will be mobilised to site on Tuesday next week, while actual construction will start on Wednesday , October 24, 2018.
The new Fruit and Vegetables Market will have four buildings (one storey each) and eight buildings (bungalow), designed to promote commercial activities.
Other facilities in the market include: 232 Open Stalls, 72 Lock Up Shops, Toilet Blocks, car park, drainage, internal roads, a warehouse, generator, transformer, perimeter fence and a security house.
Governor Wike approved the release of N400,000 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) compensation to each of the 213 Traders operating inside the market.
The governor also approved the release of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) each to 200 other traders operating around the market.
Following the directive of Governor Wike, the Special Adviser on Special Projects on Friday met with the leaders of the market and communicated the proposed actions of the State Government to the traders
Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media.
19th October, 2018.
