Building materials dealers donate N8m to fire accident victims in Onitsha

Executives of the Building Materials International Market (BMIM) in Ogidi, Idemili North Council Area of Anambra State have donated N8m to the 17 victims who lost their shops to the fire accident in the market in March this year.

President-General of BMIM, Jude Nwankwo, who distributed the funds during their prayer meeting yesterday, said N500, 000 was given to each of the victims, adding that the owners of goods in the vehicles burnt during the inferno would share N1m.

While commending the executives for living up to their responsibility, Nwankwo advised the beneficiaries to use the money judiciously and prayed to God to bless and prosper the endeavours.

He, however, warned that for the fact that market executive assisted the fire victims to cushion the effects of the accident should not warrant traders to start burning their empty shops to collect money from the BMIM.

“Through the magnanimity of the traders, we have raised over N8m to assist the traders of AT line, whose shops and goods were burnt during a recent fire incident. The secret of our success in this administration is because peace has returned to the market and we are growing from strength to strength,” he said.

He used the opportunity to announce the admission of some prominent members into Board of Trustees, BoT and patrons of the market.

He charged the Anambra State government to build a pedestrian bridge across the market, lamenting that a child selling sachet water was crushed a few weeks ago while crossing the expressway.

He pointed out that the pedestrian bridge would help to avoid road accidents recorded occasionally opposite the market due to the fact that several markets are located on both sides of the expressway.

“With three other markets around the area, it has even become busier than Upper Iweka, coupled with the size of the roads and drainage system, hence the necessity of constructing a pedestrian bridge,” he said.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Helen Iloguba, commended Nwankwo, the executive and the traders for their gesture and prayed God to prosper the traders.