Residents of Cross River State ,spread across the 196 Ward of the 18 Local Government Areas ,have again been told to take adequate precautionary measures to checkmate the current spate of fire outbreaks that have resulted in collosal loses running into millions of Naira in parts of the State.
The State Commissioner for Information,Mr Erasmus Ekpang who gave the admonition in his office in Calabar recently,said government is concerned about these spate of fire outbreaks which he pointed out has continued irrespective of Government’s continued warming messages in the Media and through the traditional rulers as well as community leaders.
“Government took proactive steps late last year and in January this year to issue out press statements on the changing weather conditions,including the vagaries of the emerging harmattan whirlwind,which usually make our environment susceptible to easy fire outbreaks “,emphasizing that people are ignoring these early warmings and the ripples effects are the dangerous destruction of yam barns,rice,cassava, and yam farms we are seeing today,the Information Commissioner quipped.
Mr Ekpang who spoke against the backdrop of recent fire outbreaks in Okuku,Yala,some parts of Obudu and Ikom local government areas,where over 20 yam barns,45 houses were destroyed to ashes.,lamented the level of destruction recorded in the fire outbreaks,adding that these fire outbreaks were avoidable if adequate precautions were activated.
The Commissioner further enjoined residents to be weary of keeping combustible items in and around the houses,adding that farmers and landlords are also reminded to continuously embark on fire terracing of their buildings and farm plantations to avoid fire trespassing to cause any danger in and around the environment.
He sympathized with those affected by the fire incidents ,particularly those who have been rendered homeless,assuming that the government of Governor Bassey Edet Otu will send relief materials to cushion the effects of the fire disasters.
By Benedict Okache
