Onitsha fire: We’ve not seen Obiano since our goods were destroyed – Traders

* say only Ngige, beggar have assisted them

Victims of last week fire incident in Onitsha, Anambra State on
Wednesday said the governor, Chief Willie Obiano was yet to visit
the market barely a week after the incident occurred.

The traders and landlords also said the major disaster took
place at the and not at the Ochanja market as earlier reported in
the media.

Speaking to newsmen at the market, leader of the victims,
Anthony Okonkwo said it was only the Minister of Labour and
Employment, Chris Ngige that had visited them since the incident
happened.

He said while they received a million naira support from Ngige,
a beggar by the name Ajebo gave them N3,000.

He regretted that people were playing politics with this issue,
warning those who were involved to desist or risk the wrath of
God.

He said, “It was not the Ochanja market that was gutted by fire.
It was only two adjoining shops on the Emordi, Amobi and Zik Avenue
that were affected.

“That was why those who visited the market were going to the
leadership of the Ochanja market instead of those of us directly
affected.

“We are surprised that our governor has not visited us since the
incident occurred. Those who are playing politics with the disaster
are feeding him with lies.

“Only Dr Chris Ngige and one beggar by the name Ajebo had given
us financial support. While Ngige gave N1m, the beggar gave us
N3,000.”

Earlier, the Onitsha Local Government Area Chairman, Emeka
Asonya, pledge to ensure details those who truly lost their goods
and property in the inferno were properly documented for necessary
assistance.

He also promised construction of four boreholes at strategic
points in the market to forestall future recurrence as well as
ensure those who were renovating their shops did not lack
water.

“I’m challenged that some of the traders have already started
rebuilding their destroyed shops. That’s the resilient spirit which
is peculiar with the Igbo.

“You are free to make use of the water from the borehole when
completed at no cost. Our prayers is that such incident will never
happen again,” he said.

2020 Budget: NASS tasks MDAs to provide measurable
targets

The National Assembly has tasked the Federal Ministries,
Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to provide achievable targets that
are measurable with timelines for the implementation of the 2020
Budget.

President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly,
Ahmad Lawan, said the ninth Assembly is not only concerned about
the timely passage of the budget but also deeply concerned about
its implementation.

Lawan, flanked by the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and principal officers of both chambers,
spoke at the National Budget Hearing on the 2020 Federal Government
Budget which began on Wednesday at the National Assembly.

The Senate President said: “We have mandated our Committees to
engage with the MDAs. We want the MDAs to give us roadmaps on how
they intend to achieve their targets.

“If you are taken 10 million Nigerians out of poverty in 2020,
in ten years it will be one hundred million. We want to see the
plans by the relevant or responsible Ministries, Departments and
Agencies of government on how the 2020 budget will be able to take
10 million Nigerians out of poverty.

“We want these to be measurable targets. We are not going to be
asking for stories. We are going to be asking for facts.

“So, we are going to task the MDAs that in this year budget we
will not wait until 2021, give us targets that are measurable which
we can evaluate after every quarter.”

The Senate President also cautioned on the continued reliance on
borrowing to fund the infrastructure needs of the country but
instead suggested a Public Private Partnership (PPP) option.

“If we have to borrow, we should borrow. Where we can avoid
borrowing because there is another opportunity, we should take that
opportunity that has a lesser burden,” Lawan said.

Lawan is also in agreement with the suggestion for the
resuscitation of the long term national planning programme.

“I agree that the long term national economic programme is
useful. We had it before, it worked for us better. We stopped it
and we have seen the consequences.

“So now that we have a minister that thinks that we should go
back to that process and we have a National Assembly that is
prepared to ensure that this country does better. We should hit the
ground running.

“I am not aware of any request for legislation but if it is the
desire or necessity that we legislate, this National Assembly will
work with the government to ensure that we legislate on the
national economic development plans,” Lawan said.

Signed:
Ola Awoniyi
Special Adviser (Media)
to President of the Senate