GOV IKPEAZU COMMESIRATES WITH FGGC UMUAHIA AS FIRE CONSUMES HOSTEL

REPORTER: PEACE AGBO

Fire has gutted and destroyed all the belongings of students in one of the hostels of Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Old Umuahia in Abia State.

Speaking when he went on an on the spot assessment of the fire outbreak behalf of the state Governor, Chief Okezie Ikpeazu , commiserated with the management and staff of FGGC over the unfortunate incident and decried the level of damages recorded in the inferno.

Governor Ikpeazu represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Okey Ahaiwe directed the school management and the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) to articulate the damages and forward same to the state government.

He said though the school is a Federal Government College, the state government would assist to ensure the damages were mitigated.

The Governor praised the gallant efforts of the personnel of Abia State Fire Service, who swung into action to extinguish the fire before it could escalate to other and thanked God that no life was lost.

While urging Abia residents to always apply caution in the use of electrical appliances, the governor encouraged them to ensure that they install fire extinguishers in their homes and business centres.

Narrating their ordeals earlier, the Principal, Federal Government Girls’ College, Old Umuahia, Mrs. Ngozi Idika Kalu, said the students went on prep when it was noticed that smoke was coming out from the hostel and the entire school community alongside the men of Abia State Fire Services were alerted as it turned out to be a fire outbreak.

Mrs. Idika Kalu, who stated that the cause of the inferno could not be ascertained, expressed regret that many belongings of the students, including beds, mattresses, clothes, buckets, books, and beverages were damaged.

She commended Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for quick response to save the situation, saying that the presence of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Okey Ahaiwe; the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Chief Sopuruchi Bekee; the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Umuahia, Mr. Alozie Odoemena; men of the Abia State Fire Service among others was a boost to their morale to extinguished the fire from affecting other hostels.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU