Legislators in the Cross River State House of Assembly have called on the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, to provide relief materials for victims of fires which razed their fishing settlement in Ine-Abasi, a fishing port in Bakassi Local Government Area.
This was part of the resolutions on the floor of the State Assembly, prompting the Speaker to direct the clerk to produce a clean copy to the Governor Bassey Otu.
About two months ago, there was a fire outbreak said to have been ignited when some fishermen were smoking their catches. The fire had burned down most of the surrounding thatched houses.
Their resolution followed a debate on a Matter of Urgent Public Interest moved by the member representing Bakassi State Consistency, Eyo Bassey Edet.
The lawmakers resolved that SEMA should provide relief materials, including building and fishing equipment to assist the victims to rebuild their homes and resume their fishing occupation.
The Bakassi assemblyman lamented the terrible condition faced by the people of Ine-Abasi whom he said have suffered greatly as a result of the fire outbreak which occurred a few days into the new year.
According to him, no life was lost, even though the inferno had engulfed the entire fishing port.
“The fire has incapacitated the people, having burnt down their makeshift houses, fishing nets and other related items.
“I move that this Assembly should cause the state government to intervene and help my people to return to their daily economic activities”, he appealed.
Contributing to the debate, members expressed sympathy with the affected community, lamenting the lack of fire stations and vehicles in the rural areas across the state.
The lawmakers also observed that the inferno affected the economic activities of the community, which is a major fishing community.
Speaker of the Assembly, Elvert Ayambem expressed sadness over the incident, stressing that it has serious consequences on the economy of the victims and the state.
