ANAMBRA GOVT SEALS BURNT FILLING STATION IN ONITSHA

REPORTER:ONYINYE CHIJIOBI

Anambra State Government has directed the immediate sealing and taking over of a private filling station in Onitsha, which was gutted by fire on Sunday night.

Governor Willie Obiano gave the directive shortly after visiting the scene of the fire to accertain the extent of damage.

Governor Obiano also directed law enforcement agencies to close down any fuel station in the state where gas skits are cited.

The Governor explained that he got intel that the fire was ignited when the dealers were in the process of offloading and discharging cooking gas.

He, however, expressed joy at the level of response by the state fire service and security agencies.

Governor Obiano warned fuel station owners to desist from building gas skits within their premises.

The State Fire Chief, Mr. Martin Agbili, said that they deployed four fire trucks on getting the distress call.

He explained that the fire was difficult to put out at initial stage due to the combistible nature of the product.

For his part, the member representing Onitsha North Constituency Two at the State House of Assembly, Mr. Eddy Ibuzo, stressed that laws were made for the people and should be adhered to.

He called on the Anambra State Physical Planning Board to rise up to its responsibilities.

Also the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Petroleum Matters, Mr. Peter Nwosu, and the Transition Committee Chairman Onitsha North Local Government Area, Mr. Agha Mba, both stated that warnings were issued to owners of fuel and cooking stations, but unheeded to.

On Sunday, December 12, 2021, at about 7.30pm, fire broke out at one of the petrol stations (Chris Tee) around Borromeo Roundabout, Onitsha but no life was lost in the incident.