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Abia State Government has promised to assist in rebuilding as well as aid in replacing the machines that were burnt during the inferno that engulfed some parts of Timber Industrial Market, Umuahia.
The Governor gave the assurance on Monday, when he visited to the market.
He therefore directed the leadership of the market to come up with a list of equipment and an estimate of articles that were lost in the incident and bring them to a meeting with him and the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, which would be convened on or before Friday this week.
The Governor, who expressed grief over the huge loss and sympathized with the affected traders, described the fire outbreak as unfortunate, noting that it is a bad way to begin the year.
He however called on the victims not to be discouraged, by the incident, but forge ahead with their businesses since there was no loss of life.
He stated that investigation must be carried out to identify the remote and immediate causes of the inferno, as it would help to prevent further occurrence.
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Ikpeazu, while stressing the need for all to apply caution, especially during this harmatan period, equally encouraged them to be calm and never lose faith in God and prayed that God would strengthen them to work harder to achieve a better 2020.
Cosmas Ndukwe, commissioner for Trade and Investment, who accompanied the Governor on the visit, commiserated with the affected traders and described the incident, as painful.
He encouraged them not to lose hope and thanked God that no life was lost in the incident.
Earlier, the Management Committee Chairman of Timber Market, Umuahia, Austin Onyenweaku, explained that the Fire Service personnel tried their best to salvage the situation on that fateful day, but all to no avail.
He disclosed that 48 machines and a Lister Generating Set were lost including wood and other articles, and thanked the Governor for coming to see things for himself.
It would be recalled that in the early hours January 1, 2020, fire engulfed a section of the Timber Market and property worth millions of naira was lost.
