Usman Ododo, the governor of Kogi State, has said the state government would support the rebuilding of the GSM village at Kpata in Lokoja, the state capital, ravaged by fire on Thursday, to enable victims of the fire disaster to have their sources of livelihood restored.
Ododo gave the assurance on Thursday when he visited the scene of the fire incident for an on-the-spot assessment of the level of damage caused by the fire outbreak.
The governor, who sympathized with the victims of the fire, described the extent of damage as worrisome and promised to ensure that owners of businesses and other victims are supported to bounce back from the setback that has affected their means of livelihood.
“This GSM village had not only provided a dependable and legitimate source of living for several youths and women in the state, it has also impacted the state’s economy positively,” he said.
The governor assured the market operators of immediate relief measures, assuring them that plans for rebuilding and recovery of affected property as a result of the fire disaster would soon commence.
Traders and residents in the area expressed appreciation and solidarity to the governor for the visit.
They noted that their determination to rebuild and come back stronger as a business community has been rekindled by the visit of the governor.