Skip to main content

Ikot Ekpene Market Fire: Lawmaker Demands Swift Government Action, Functional Fire Station

 



By Asuquo Edem

Worried by the resultant effect caused by the inferno and the plight of affected traders of Ikot Expene Main Market, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has called on the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to immediately assess the damage and provide relief materials to assuage the conditions of affected traders.

The Speaker, Elder Udeme Otong who prisided over Plenary mandated the Clerk, Mrs. Nsikak Orok, to officially notify SEMA through the Office of the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi. The directive followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Jerry Otu, member representing Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara State Constituency.

Hon. Otu while presenting a Matter of Urgent Public importance before the House, described the incident as a crippling blow to hundreds of traders, many of whom had stocked goods on loan ahead of the Christmas season. He appealed for prompt intervention to cushion the impact and restore the livelihoods of the victims.

Speaking with Assembly Correspondents after plenary, the lawmaker—who also chairs the House Committee on Information—lamented the absence of a functional fire service unit in Ikot Ekpene, a gap he said contributed significantly to the extent of destruction. He urged the state government to establish a well-equipped fire service station in the area, staffed with trained professionals to respond swiftly to future emergencies.

Hon. Otu also reaffirmed collaboration with the Chairman of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Council, Hon. (Elder) Aniefiok Nkom, to mobilize additional relief efforts for the affected traders.

In a separate development, the Akwa Ibom State 2026 Appropriation Bill, submitted last week by Governor Umo Eno, scaled through second reading. The Speaker, Elder Udeme J. Otong, subsequently referred the bill to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for further legislative scrutiny, with a mandate to report back within 20 working days.

The House adjourned plenary to resume on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 3, 2025 at 5:09 AM

    If Ikot Ekpene had a Royalty, the house member should be a Duke. He’s absolutely doing the work of a legislature; to lobby the government and urgently call to action when there’s an emergency situation affecting the security and the entire wellbeing of his constituents. He’s done this several times

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Improved Working Conditions For Teachers In Rural Areas Underway As AKHA Advocates Provision Of Live-In Quarters

Secondary school teachers posted to rural areas in the State would have a sigh of relief as lawmakers of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has advocated to the State Government for the provision of live-in quarters to reduce the burden of transportation and solve issues of accomodation.  This was sequel to a report presented to the House by the Chairman House Committee on Education, Hon. Kenim Onofiok during Plenary today. Hon. Onofiok informed the House that the Committee had invited stakeholders from the Ministry including Commissioner for Education, Chairmen, State Secondary Education Board, Permanent Secretaries to discuss on the matter. The House thereafter dissolved into the Committee of the Whole where the two recommendations of the report were adopted. The House  recommended that the State Government extends the fencing of schools to every local government area in the State and also prioritize the building of live-in  quarters for teachers to provide accommoda...
Post a Comment
Read more

Breaking: A’Ibom Governor Removes Two Aides Amid Restructuring, Alleged PDP Links

  Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, has relieved two aides of their duties with immediate effect, the state government announced on Monday. The affected officials are: Joseph Jacob Ikpak, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Support Services Felix Ekuri, Special Assistant to the Governor on Neighbourhood Watch Their disengagement was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prince Enobong Uwah, who described the action as part of the governor’s ongoing efforts to realign the machinery of government with the Renewed Hope and ARISE Agenda. The statement did not provide further details on the circumstances leading to their removal. However, it was gathered from multiple political sources that the decision may be linked to the aides’ alleged association with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The claim has not been officially confirmed, and the government has not commented on the speculation. Political analysts no...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tragedy at Ikot Ekpene General Hospital: Akwa Ibom Governor Orders Probe Into Maternal Death

By Asuquo Edem  UYO – A tragic incident at the General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene, has sparked public outrage after a young mother and her newborn reportedly died following a caesarean section, prompting Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State to order an immediate high-powered investigation. A disturbing video of the grieving family began circulating on social media over the weekend, drawing widespread condemnation and raising fresh concerns over maternal mortality in the state. Moved by the incident, Governor Eno expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John, to convene a commission of inquiry comprising medical and legal experts. The panel is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and recommend preventive measures. In a dramatic move, Dr. John led a midnight team of officials from the Ministry of Health to the hospital for an on-the-spot preliminary investigation, gathering firsthand testimonies f...
1 comment
Read more