Cross River State Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu, has promised full government support for traders and businesses affected by the fire outbreak that gutted a section of the popular SPAR shopping complex in Calabar.
The governor gave the assurance on Saturday during an on-the-spot assessment of the damage, where he commiserated with the management and victims of the inferno.
He was represented by his deputy, Peter Odey.
Otu described the incident as unfortunate and assured victims that the state government would not abandon them.
“We are here to identify with the management, the traders and everyone who has been affected, and to assure them that they are not alone at this difficult moment,” he said.
The governor disclosed that he had already interacted with the management of the shopping complex. While the exact cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed, preliminary indications point to a possible electrical fault.
“We have spoken with the management, but at this stage, we cannot conclusively say what caused the fire. There are indications that it may have been electrical, but we must allow the appropriate authorities to conduct their investigations before arriving at a definitive conclusion,” he explained.
Otu revealed that the Director-General of the *Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA*, has commenced arrangements to assess the extent of the damage and identify the immediate needs of those affected.
“The Director-General of SEMA is already on the matter. The agency will carry out a proper assessment of the damage, identify the victims and establish the areas where immediate relief is required,” he said.
The governor stressed that the government’s intervention would go beyond sympathy visits.
“Our objective is not just to come here, sympathise with the victims and leave. We want to see how government can support them to get back on their feet. We will provide the necessary support within the capacity of government to ensure that the affected businesses can resume operations as soon as reasonably possible,” he emphasised.
Otu said the state would also investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire to prevent future occurrences.
*“We will look at what happened, identify the gaps and take appropriate measures to ensure that an incident of this nature does not happen again.”*
He also commended the *Cross River State Fire Service* for their prompt response, noting that the agency had been adequately equipped by his administration.
“I want to commend the Cross River State Fire Service. They responded promptly and professionally to this emergency. This is why it is important for us to continue investing in our emergency-response institutions. When disaster strikes, every minute matters.”
The fire, which broke out on Saturday morning, destroyed goods worth millions of naira and drew outrage from shop owners who earlier complained of delayed emergency response.