The Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has conducted a needs assessment following a fire outbreak that destroyed shops and valuable property, along No. 90 Murtala Mohammed Highway, Ishie Town, Calabar, the state capital.
The assessment team was led by the Director General of CR-SEMA, Mr. Efa Nyong, in collaboration with officials of the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
The fire affected four commercial shops. Among the worst-hit businesses are a laundry service and a fashion design shop, where sewing machines, fabrics, customers’ clothing, generators and other valuable equipment were completely consumed by the inferno.
Parts of the affected building also sustained structural damage as a result of the intense heat.
Speaking during the visit, Director General of CR-SEMA, Mr. Efa Nyong, sympathized with the affected victims and assured them that the state government shares in their pain.
Mr. Nyong explained that the assessment would provide the government with credible information on the extent of the damage and the immediate needs of the victims, adding that the agency remains committed to ensuring timely humanitarian intervention for disaster-affected persons across the state.
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He urged the victims to remain hopeful, assuring them that the state government would continue to explore appropriate ways of supporting citizens affected by disasters.
The director general also emphasized the importance of fire prevention, encouraging residents and business owners to regularly inspect electrical installations and ensure proper wiring of their premises to minimize the risk of fire outbreaks.
Officials of the Nigerian Red Cross Society also carried out a humanitarian assessment, documenting the losses sustained by each affected business while providing psychosocial support and reassurance to the victims.
Although the exact cause of the fire had not been established as of the time of the assessment, preliminary observations suggested that it may have originated from an electrical fault or defective wiring.
