[dropcap]H[/dropcap]on. Dr. Augustine Obidi’s led Investigative Panel of Inquiry on the Fire Outbreak at the Eke Modern Market, Ibusa submitted their report on Monday 23rd September, 2019 in a brief, but impressive ceremony at the Chairman’s office, Oshimili North Local Government Secretariat, Akwukwu-Igbo.
The Panel of Inquiry was set up by the Council Chairman, Hon. Louis Ndukwe to investigate and determine the immediate and remote cause or causes of the fire out break which occurred on the 6th of May 2019 at the Eke Modern Market, one of the biggest markets in the Local Government area, located at Ibusa.
Receiving the report, the Oshimili North Council Boss, Hon. Louis Ndukwe, expressed delight over the report and commended members of the Panel for doing a painstaking job based on the terms of reference given to them, while assuring that the Local Government under his leadership will do everything within its powers to implement their recommendations.
“What else can I say than to express my inner gratitude to this Committee and I want to promise you that, I set up this committee and you have given you report, I give you seven days and we shall start the implementation of your recommendations,” he stated and further assured that the recommendations will be fully implemented with a view to proving to the people the local Government’s determination towards bringing sanity in the handling of public institutions that are meant for the general benefit of the people.
“If there is anyone who needs to be brought under the law, the security agencies are very much ready to effect that, “he assured and pledged in line with their suggestions, to take up the matter with the Honourable Member representing Oshimili North in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Princess Pat Ajudua and the Director General of Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, Hon. Joan Mrakpo, affirming that a lot will be achieved working in synergy with the relevant persons for the overall benefit of the Local Government area.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon Dr. Austin Obidi said that a lot of investigations were carried out on the cause of the assignment, saying that the committee met for a period of three months from 6th of May, 2019 to 29th of July, 2019.
The former council Chairman, stated that it was the discovery of the Committee that people have taken impunity to the extreme, stressing that the order now in the Local Government area is a situation where laws are taken for granted.
He therefore on behalf of the committee called on the Chairman to the do the needful by implementing the recommendations of the Panel of Inquiry.
“When sentence or punishment is not immediately executed, people are encouraged into impunity”, Dr. Obidi said and prayed for the Chairman and members of the Executive Council of the Local Government for God to Give them the needed political will to be able to execute and implement some of the recommendations of the panel.
The Panel in their report gave seventeen recommendations that included: setting up of stringent rules and guidelines to control the sale of petroleum products within the precinct of the market and the Local Government area, setting up of rules and regulations for the efficient use and management of generating set presently located in the market and opening up of discussions with the DG, Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency and the Member representing Oshimili North in the State House of Assemble on the urgent need for a fire service station in Ibusa, amongst others.
Also in the report, the Panel was able to identify the immediate and remote cause of the fire incident in the market.
They reported that the storage, sales and dispensing of suspected adulterated kerosene in an unapproved, unlicensed and congested environment such as the Eke Modern Market, powered by an electricity generating set could be the immediate cause of the fire incidence.
Other members of the committee which has Hon. Hilary Nwaokolo as secretary, included, Hon. Sir Uche Esenwa, Sir Alfred Isoh, Hon. Andy Onyemeziem, Hon. Leonard Nkeaka, Mr. Phillip Ifechukwude representing the Ibusa community and Barrister Andy Ogbolu representing the Ibusa Think Tank Group as well as the representative of the Obuzor Palace.
Also at the event with the Executive Chairman, Hon. Louis Ndukwe, was the Vice-Chairman, Hon. Sir Uche Esenwa and other members of the Executive Council of the Local Government.