The Cross River State Government has assured businesses and individuals affected by the fire outbreak at the SPAR shopping complex in Calabar of its support, saying efforts are already underway to assess the damage and provide immediate relief.
The assurance was given on Saturday by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dr. Peter Odey, who visited the scene on behalf of Governor Bassey Otu to inspect the extent of the damage and sympathise with those affected.
Speaking with journalists at the scene, Odey said he had interacted with the manager of the shopping complex, noting that the actual cause of the fire had not yet been established, although an electrical fault was being considered as a possible cause.
He said the government would not abandon those affected by the incident, adding that the Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had commenced steps to assess the losses and determine the immediate assistance required.
According to him, the government would also support affected businesses to return to normal operations as soon as possible while taking steps to reduce the possibility of a similar incident happening again.
Odey commended the Cross River State Fire Service for its prompt response, as well as the Federal Fire Service for joining the efforts to bring the fire under control.
He also praised the firefighters for risking their lives to contain the blaze and security agencies for protecting the area and preventing looting of the affected shops.
The Deputy Governor further disclosed that water was being redirected from Channel 1 as part of measures to address concerns around nearby houses, saying the intervention would help reduce the risk of further structural damage.
Odey expressed concern that Calabar had experienced several emergencies within a short period, including fire outbreaks and landslides.
He said the state government was working with federal agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-South Development Commission (SSDC) and the National Ecological Fund, to respond to recent disasters and provide support to affected residents.
The government, he assured, would continue to respond to emergencies and support residents during difficult moments.
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