What happens when a storm hits a city’s busiest market overnight?
Traders at the Integrated Building Material Market in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, are counting their losses after a powerful windstorm tore through the area on Monday, May 26, destroying shops, goods, and sources of livelihood.
In response, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in partnership with the Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), conducted an urgent on-site damage assessment on Tuesday, May 27. The team, led by Mr. Okolo Kingsley from NEMA’s Enugu Operations Office, visited the affected sections to evaluate the destruction and identify immediate relief needs.
“Many of our members lost everything,” said market chairman Mr. Onwe Fidelis, who received the team and guided them through the wreckage.
Preliminary findings revealed that several shops and stalls were either partially or completely destroyed, with property and inventory worth millions of naira damaged. Fortunately, no lives were lost.
During the visit, Mr. Kingsley extended the agency’s sympathy to the victims and advised traders to prioritize safety by turning off electrical appliances after business hours and ensuring that fire extinguishers are installed and functional.
The joint team is expected to compile and submit a detailed report to aid in future relief and recovery efforts.
As traders continue to pick up the pieces, calls for swift government intervention grow louder—reminding all of the fragile line between stability and sudden disaster.
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