Buhari commiserates with Delta fire victims

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday commiserated with victims of the Ogbogonogo fire disaster in Delta, assuring them that they would not bear the burden of the incident alone.

The president spoke through the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, who led a team to visit Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa at Government House, Asaba.

The team, accompanied by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo, conveyed the feelings of Buhari to the governor.

Buhari commended the measures taken by Okowa to curb the spread of the fire and also reducing its effects on traders.

“We are here in Delta State to commiserate with traders, who lost their products worth millions of naira to the unfortunate fire incident at the Ogbogonogo Market here in Asaba.

“The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is with the State Emergency Management Agency to assist these hard working Nigerians, whose sources of livelihood were affected by fire.

“We need to let them know that once there is life, there is hope.

“We are also commending you and your team for the quick response which gave hope to the people.

“Immediately, we got wind of the incident, we sent relief materials to the state to cushion the effect of the fire on the people,” the president said.

Okowa expressed delight that Buhari was quick to respond to the fire incident.

He noted that only the creation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development could have made that prompt response possible.

“We want to express our gratitude to you and through you (minister) to our president.

“This visit is a thoughtful visit concerning the fire at Ogbogonogo Market.

“We have a warm relationship with NEMA and we are supporting the activities of your Ministry as it concerns assisting the needy in society.

“As a State Government, our youths are participating in different skill acquisition and wealth creation programmes.

“We have different programmes to support widows. We also have programmes for the less-privileged and the vulnerable.