Nigerians across board have continued to to react to the latest fire mishap in Onitsha main market that claimed the lives of many Nigerians as well as goods worth billions of Nigeria, even as the fire was said have had a field day unchallenged for many hours due to no facility or response team dispatched to fight the fire. A situation many have described and unfortunate.

Such scenarios as witnessed in this horrific incidence have given rise to concern and need for Nigeria to shift from the practice of only reacting to challenges to taking proactive measures to prepare for certain eventualities.

The PDP Youth Alliance Director on Special Duties and DG, Global Initiative for Good Governance  (GIGG), Chief Dr. Emeka C. Kalu, has in a Press Statement made available to the press and signed by his media and publicity aide, Comr Amos Kalu, condoled with the families that lost their loved ones in the inferno, encouraging them to find the fortitude to bear such irreparable lose, even as he encouraged the people that lost their businesses to take heart as the government have promised to step in to ameliorate their loss.

In the statement, Chief Kalu buttressed on the need for our governments to be more proactive than always reacting to issues after the damages must have been done, stating that such proactive measures if they were in place, could’ve saved many souls or at least reduce the level of damage experienced in this incident.

“It is a fact that there have been incidences of fire in the same market in the past. Considering the level of activities and prevalent traffic jam on the roads leading to the market. The best proactive measure the government could take is to build at least 3 fire fighting stations within the market to facilitate quick response to any emergency challenge that may arise.

“It is also imperative that National Emergency Management Agency of Nigeria (MEMA) should have their presence inside the market and other places that have tendency for large gathering of people so that it will be easier to tackle accidents like fire and building collapse and/or many other unforeseen incidents that may be life threatening,

“If this action is put in place, not just in this particular market, but in many other markets around Nigeria, it will go a long way to prepare us for any eventualities rather than only reacting after the damages had already occured” Chief Kalu suggested.

He said that this is not time to trade blames, but a time to reflect and think of practical solutions to these challenges in our markets, on the roads and other places prone to catastrophe of collateral magnitude as experience in this market.

“I send my deepest sympathies to everyone affected by this mishap. God will see you all through this pain and sorrow. Stay strong.