Date: 2015-09-29

Renowned for communal efforts, the people of Offa, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State rebuilt the popular Owode Market in the ancient town after it was razed down by an early morning fire.

It cost them N500m to rebuild the 302-shop facility, it was learnt. The inferno which was said to have started around 1:30am in May 2014 reportedly burnt down a larger part of the market.

The fire was said to have been caused by a power surge from an electric pole. Traders had earlier reportedly complained about the damaged pole to the electricity officials to rectify the problem.

The National Emergency Agency (NEMA) has also put smile in the faces of the over 648 victims of the incident.

Though, the community's indebtedness on the ongoing project is in the neighbourhood of N32 million, the community disclosed that it had expended about N500 million on reconstruction work.

Secretary General of the Offa Descendants Union (ODU), Mrs. Wasilat A. Mcarthy who conducted NEMA team round the market recently said the state government had redeemed its pledge of N10 million.

Mrs. Mcarthy said: "We feel highly elated and appreciative of NEMA for coming to give relief materials to the fire victims. We know that the federal government in his wisdom has put in this agency to bring succour and joy to disaster victims.

We have about 648 people who were victims of the inferno and who will benefit from the NEMA largess. 302 shops were burnt. Some of them share shops, that is why we have 648 victims.

"We lost close to N2 billion as a committee was put in place. Some of the victims even left money in their shops. "My advice is that we should take proactive action to forestall future occurrence of that. We should insure our goods.

"The reconstruction of the market so far is strictly on community efforts. All sons and daughters of Offa even those that are not resident in Offa have been contributing money. We always wake up to the cry of ourselves. We have a listening government. Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed came immediately the fire occurred, he saw it and he was touched."

Speaking, Zonal Coordinator NEMA, Minna Operation Office, Mr. Slaku L. Bijimi said that the agency is worried by incessant fire out break across the country. NEMA boss added that "it is advising that we take preventive measures so that we curb disasters. We do not like to come to assist people because of disasters because we do not take pleasure in the loss of lives, property of the people. No amount of material or money you give can bring back life. We want people to be safe than to be devastated by disasters."

Mr. Bijimi said: "A few months ago we came for an assessment here and we saw that a good part of the market was burnt and we promised to come back. "We are impressed by the fact that work is almost completed and we are hoping that the small assistance we brought…will go a long way in speeding up the remaining work and the market will be commissioned.

"For the market we have cement, roofing sheets, nails, and for the affected victims, we have food and non-food items...What we came with is worth millions of naira."