Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, visited the scene of the recent fire disaster at Onitsha’s Ogbo Ogwu International Market, expressing deep sympathy for the affected traders and pledging his unwavering support.
The devastating fire, which erupted on November 8, 2022, resulted in the loss of over 80 shops and claimed several lives. Obi, accompanied by Valentine Ozigbo, a 2021 governorship candidate in the state, toured the charred remains of the market, engaging directly with victims to assess the extent of the damage.
Addressing the distraught traders, Obi remarked, “I understand your pain. I am a trader like you. I know how you feel. The passion you put into your business and then to have a fire come in and destroy what you have built for months in a few hours.”
He emphasized the urgent need for improved emergency response services, stating, “If I win the election, we will re-organize the public and social services to make public spaces more secure. Emergency services and first responders like the fire service will be reorganized, retrained, and retooled to meet the demands of a 21st-century world and Nigeria’s population.”
The Ogbo Ogwu Market, a vital hub for pharmaceutical and chemical products, has previously suffered from fire incidents. In March 2025, Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo laid the foundation stone to rebuild shops that were demolished to contain a fire in November 2024, which resulted in eight fatalities and numerous injuries.
Obi’s visit underscores the critical need for comprehensive safety measures and robust support systems for traders. His commitment to aiding the affected individuals highlights the importance of community solidarity in times of crisis.
2 Comments