I sympathize and empathize with the victims of the inferno that raged the ancient city of Onitsha yesterday. It was a gory site to behold, as both residential and commercial buildings burned to ashes, resulting to loss of lives and properties.
However, while we sympathize with the victims of the inferno and seek an end to the periodic fire outbreaks in urban settlements, it has become pertinent to outlay some critical facts therein.
Having lived in the city of Onitsha for the greater part of my life, I can rightly posit that I’m well acquainted with some information regarding the city.
Fire outbreaks, usually occasioned by fallen tankers conveying PMS, otherwise known as petrol, have more or less become a yearly occurrence. The question is this, why always Onitsha??
Successive state governments have made futile efforts to rid the city of Onitsha of street trading as their activities obstruct both vehicular and pedestrian movements.
In fact, the government of Peter Obi introduced the ‘ndi mpiawa azu’ group.
They were mandated to put an end to street trading especially in the city of Onitsha.
The present government of Obiano also brought a street trading fighting group called the ‘ocha brigade’. All these are efforts to ensure the roads in Onitsha are opened up for free flow of motorists.
The recent disastrous fire outbreak in Onitsha, as reported, was caused after a petrol laden tanker fell and spilled the contents in to the gutters before bursting into flames.
As the already burning petrol flowed through the gutters, shops and kiosks illegally erected on the structures got consumed thus causing the fire to spread to residential buildings.
It’s a public knowledge to any individual residence in Onitsha that there’s a fire service station right inside the main market. A ride from main market to Ochanja market is not more than 5 minutes. But due to the activities of illegal street trading, it will be easier to access the Ochanja market through Asaba(a neighbouring state capital) than from main market.
There’s also a fire service station in mgbuka Obosi market, an equally 10 minutes ride to Ochanja market but due to the activities of commercial buses and keke riders, it will take several hours to navigate through the ever busy Owerri road before having to negotiate with street traders who have cordoned off the greater part of the road from the Ukwu mango areas to Iweka round about.
The government takes the blame for allowing the public sentiment deter them from carrying out her functions. The then governor of Lagos state Raji Fashola didn’t listen to the cries of the masses when he demolished shanties in the state.
The blame also goes to the market leaderships for compromising on their duties. Government banned street trading, yet you collect tolls from traders so they can erect stalls on the roads and gutters thus obstructing the free flow of traffic.
The final blame goes to the poor but recalcitrant traders who have decided to remain on the streets despite warnings from the government.
Not that the Ochanja market has been filled to the brim, there are still empty stalls right inside the market. But these unrepentant street traders prefers to run upon citing the anti street trading taskforce to return when they have left.
Humans are the most difficult creatures. Even when one erect walls or fence, there’s still the need to position armed security men to wade off intruders.
Security is every one’s business. By helping the government in the area of security, you’re indirectly safeguarding your self.
Odoh Ugochukwu writes from Enugu Ezike.