An Aba, Abia State-based hotel owner Chief Chinedu Ezinwa and other business owners situated at No. 219 School Road housing Tourists Inn have cried out over the loss that they suffered in a fire incident that brought down the facility.
An eyewitness, who lives around Enyimba International Football Club Stadium, some distance away from the fire incident, said the fire started from Room 13 of the 25-room apartment before it spread to other rooms.
Mr. Prince Anyanwu, the hotel manager, explained that the fire started at about 5pm and destroyed property worth over N20 million.
He stated that officials of the Abia State Fire Service arrived late at the scene, which resulted to the heavy loss.
He commended the bravery of residents and passersby that prevented the raging fire from spreading to adjoining buildings.
“When the fire started, we called in the fire service, but by the time they came, half of the facility was gone. No life was lost, but we didn’t pick out a pin.
“The 25 rooms and boys’ quarters, a boutique, hairdressing salon and a mother care shop are now in ruins.
“We noticed fire from room 13 and we don’t know the cause of the fire up till now. This hotel has been here since 2007,” he stated.
Chief Ezinwa, the owner of the hotel lamented that the fire incident ruined him, as that is his only business.
“This situation has finished me. The only thing left for me now is my life. As I speak with you, I’m a nobody. I’m finished. This is the only business I have and it’s gone. This property alone is worth over N20 million.
“The fire service officials came when the whole place was almost razed down. They gave many excuses. Firstly, they said they had no gas, secondly they said the driver was not around and when he was called, he said he went to eat.
“And even when they managed to fix their vehicle, they arrived here and did small thing and said their water was finished. They left and came back by 7.00pm. It took the efforts of Aba people to prevent the fire from spreading to other buildings”.
Ezinwa pleaded with government to always equip agencies, like the fire service, to provide quality service to the people.
“They’re very important. I don’t want what happened to me to happen to another person. All their tools and workers need to be ready at all times.
“Had this happened in the night, lives would have been lost. I plead with government to equip the fire service so that they can tackle such situations. The workers are there, but there are no tools”, he observed.
Meanwhile, the Aba Commander of the Abia State Fire Service, Mr. Uche Okezie, contrary to the earlier statement in an interview stated his men tried their best to put off the fire.
He explained that they got information about the fire at about 6:05pm, while they arrived at the scene by 6:10pm and did all they could to bring the situation under control.
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