The Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, this Thursday said there is need for the state to set up an endowment fund to manage disasters in the state.
Governor Makinde, stated this while inspecting the scene of the inferno that wreaked havoc on some shops at the popular Dugbe business hub, Ibadan.
Speaking with newsmen at the scene of the fire outbreak, the Governor said,
“at a time like this, the fire incident was the least expected, because we are battling with the coronavirus pandemic.”
“We are battling with the social impact of it, as well as the economic impact of the global pandemic and this unfortunate fire incident occurred.”
“I believe there is the need for the state to have an endowment fund for disaster management.”
“If such fund had been in existence before now, we could have given immediate palliatives for the affected traders but we will try our best to see what we can do within the myriad of challenges confronting the nation.”
Governor Seyi Makinde, however, empathized with all the victims of the inferno.
On his part, the Zonal Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South west, Slaku Lugard, said he was on the spot to assess the level of damage done to the shops. He promised to send his recommendations to the appropriate quarters as soon as he concluded his investigations. He assured that something would be done where necessary.
Mr Lugard, however, commiserated with the victims of the fire disaster on millions of naira lost in the inferno. He noted that NEMA would collaborate with SEMA on awareness creation and to bring some insurance companies to work with the traders.
