BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in charge of Ekiti, Ondo and Osun States, in collaboration with the Osun State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA), has provided succour to victims of fire outbreak at Odo-Ogbe market in Ile Ife, Osun State.
The market was gutted by fire last year and goods worth millions of Naira were destroyed. Since then, affected traders have been devastated as many of them could no longer provide for their families.
But respite came their way on Thursday when the Federal Government, through NEMA, donated relief materials to them.
Speaking through its representative, Simisaye Azeez, NEMA expressed concern over the huge loss of valuables that occasioned the unfortunate Odo-Ogbe main market fire disasters in 2020.
NEMA maintained that the urgent need to cushion the effects of the inferno on the part of the shop owners informed its intervention by donating the relief materials valued at several millions of naira.
Azeez, on behalf of the Federal government, donated items like roofing sheets, nails, cements and planks, among others, to the affected traders in the market.
In her welcome remarks, the Council Manager, Ife Central Local Government, Mrs Aromolaran Susan, appreciated NEMA for the kind gesture, saying it would go a long way in giving the affected victims a renewed sense of hope to start their businesses all over again.
Aromolaran also commended the Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, for his unrelenting efforts at putting smiles on the faces of the affected victims.
Speaking at the occasion, the state Commisioner for Home Affairs, Tajudeen Lawal, who was represented by the Coordinating Director of the Ministry, Mrs R.T Ajao, appreciated NEMA.
Ajao urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the materials donated to them.
In his remarks in the same vein, Commisioner for Commerce, Industry, Cooperative and Empowerment, Bode Olanipekun, who was also represented by a Director in the Ministry, Mrs Kehinde Odediran, appreciated the efforts of NEMA for the donation of the relief materials.
Also, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Adebayo Adeleke, thanked the state government.
A traditional ruler, the Obalufe of Ile-Ife, Idowu Adediwura, on behalf of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, appreciated the kind gestures of NEMA and governor Oyetola.
In their words of appreciation, the Babaloja General of Ife Central Local Government, Pius Omoworare and Iyaloja, Mrs Falilat Lawal, commended NEMA and the state government for their support and assistance.
