The Kogi State House of Assembly has called on the state government to assist victims of a devastating fire outbreak at the GSM Village near Kpata Market, Lokoja, which destroyed goods worth millions of naira.
In a motion of urgent public importance, Hon. Bin-Ebaiya Shehu Tijjani, representing Lokoja I, presented the matter on the House floor, urging the government to intervene in easing the financial losses. The GSM Village, a hub for information and communication technology (ICT) activities, houses private investors who procure and repair electronic equipment.
Tijjani expressed sorrow over the tragedy, explaining that many young entrepreneurs had invested heavily in the area to advance technology and repair services, all of which were destroyed by the fire. He appealed for immediate government support to help the victims recover from their losses.
Hon. Bode Ogunmola, representing Ogori Magongo State Constituency, seconded the motion, describing the incident as a painful loss for the youth struggling to survive in the state. He questioned the preparedness of the state’s firefighting response, recalling that the previous administration had purchased firefighting vehicles, and called for an investigation to prevent future occurrences.
In a separate motion, Hon. Abu Onoru-Oiza Jibrin of Ajaokuta State Constituency urged the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the fire’s impact and recommend immediate relief measures for those affected.
Speaker Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf directed the Clerk to communicate the Assembly’s resolutions to the State Executive for action.
