Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has expressed sadness over the inferno at the Fruit and Vegetable Market, Port Harcourt, declaring that the State Government will come to the aid of the affected traders.
Governor Wike on Thursday night upon hearing about the fire outbreak, led some members of the State Executive Council and leaders of the state for immediate on the spot assessment.
The governor who described the inferno as a great loss to the state, said that the State Government will rebuild the market in no distant time.
“Government will do what it is supposed to do to ensure that the traders continued to earn a living. It is unfortunate that this has happened.
“We will look at the immediate and remote causes and we shall also come to the aid of those who are affected by the inferno. Let me assure you that we will do what we can to resolve it”, he said.
The governor called for the cooperation of everyone in the market, saying that anger on the part of the traders will not solve the problem.
He pleaded with them to remain calm, saying though the Fire Service responded late, they ought to have allowed them salvage what they could.
A man who identified himself as the Market Leader said the fire started at about 7pm. He said it was impossible to control the youths that stopped the Fire Service from carrying out their responsibility.
