Senator. Jimoh Ibrahim, representing Ondo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has donated N10m to traders affected by the fire incident at the Caring Heart market in Okitipupa, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Ibrahim, who visited the scene of the fire incident on Thursday, in company of some traditional rulers in the district to assess the level of damage, sympathised with the affected traders.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a midnight fire engulfed the market on December 12 and razed fewer than 18 shops stocked with frozen foods and other goods worth over N50m.
Ibrahim, upon realising the destruction would have been less if water had been available at the market, also promised the drilling of a solar-powered borehole as well as installation of solar-powered lamps at the market.
“I want to express my sympathy to you for the loss of your stalls and shops. I came down here with our traditional rulers immediately I was informed about the fire outbreak to come and see you and assess the gravity of the destruction.
“I was told that you would have been able to put out the fire when it began if there had been water here.
“To prevent the recurrence of this development, I will come and sink a borehole here for you to use; I will also light up the market with solar lamps, which will be installed soon.
“I have seen the level of destruction and the losses recorded by the affected shop owners, I am donating a sum of N10m to you so that you can use it to purchase goods,” he said.
Chief Mrs Florence Irinyemi, the Iyalaje of the market, who spoke on behalf of the traders, thanked Ibrahim for taking time to visit the market and for donating N10m to victims.
(NAN)
