Some senators yesterday described the Abuja bomb blast as man’s inhumanity to man. They spoke when they were led to the scene of the blast by the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West).
They also visited the National Hospital, Abuja where Adeyemi donated N2 million to 48 victims receiving treatment at the National Hospital and the Asokoro General Hospital.
Adeyemi said the amount is meant for the 25 patients at the National Hospital and 23 others at the Asokoro General Hospital.
After inspecting the scene of the incident at the Nyanya Motor Park, Adeyemi and Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Philip Aduda became emotional.
The two Senators, who could barely respond to questions from reporters, lamented the incident describing it as “man’s inhumanity to man.”
Adeyemi said: “It’s unfortunate that this is happening in our nation. I want to assure Nigerians that the government would continue to do its best. Abuja has been relatively safe in the last one year so to speak.
“It is unfortunate that this has happened. On our part we would look at the possibility of ensuring that now that we are still working on the FCT Statutory budget. We hope to make enough funding for security.
“We are going to ensure that virtually in all parks and commercial centres of the city would have cameras that can capture movement of people. Cameras that would be far above what people can tamper with.
“In essence we are going to ensure that good cameras are purchased. We are going purchase CCTV’s that are of international standard that can really do the job for us. We must realise now that we are faced with a very serious problem.
“I sympathies with the families whose loved ones died in this blast. It is so painful. It is inexplicable. These are things that about a decade ago we read about in far away nations of the world.
“We are seeing it right now in our own nation. Majority of those who died here were Nigerians struggling for their daily bread.
“These were people who could not afford three square meals. I feel moved when I saw shoes and motorcycles. These were real people struggling to survive who have to ode this way.
“My appeal to all those who may be involved in these attacks is to please have mercy on others and let us live in peace. Please let us have peace and have mercy.
“Whatever are the grievances and issues can be resolved. But I know that it is going to be history.
“This problem too will pass. I have the assurance of God. We have passed through very harsh situations in Nigeria before.
“This period will come and go. Nigerians must be hopeful and must be courageous as a people. It is a trying period towards ensuring that we have a nation that all of us can lay claim to.
“The fact is, this crisis is a process of development. We have passed through this process and Nigeria would always remain one.”
Senator Aduda commended the health workers for their commitment and quick response towards helping the wounded.
He said: “This is my constituency and it happened directly to me because among them we have family members, brothers and sisters and all those who supported me one way or the other politically.
“It was indeed one sad Monday morning and it is unfortunate. We pray that it does not happen again.”
He thanked Adeyemi for his gesture to the people.
Chairman of the Board of the National Hospital, Dr. Tony Okam, told the lawmakers that despite the lack of space at the hospital the staff have been doing their best.
Dr. Okam also refuted insinuations that the hospital was overstretched as a result of the blast.
According to him, the trauma Centre was ready for commissioning and if there was need, the Centre would have been opened.
He said: “We run three shifts, if there was need, we would have called up workers from the Centre and opened the Centre, which has 60 beds, and capacity to expand up to 80 would have ordinarily been able to accommodate everybody but our prayer is that it will not happen again.”
Adeyemi said: “I am happy that these people are responding to treatment. I recalled that years back, my committee was over-sighting the National Hospital, when we came on board, the hospital was not on the template for budgeting. I was one of those who pushed for it. I assure you that we will do all we can to improve appropriation for the National Hospital.
“We watched the news yesterday and I overheard some families of victims talking about the fact that some of the victims are un-fed and that disturbed me personally. I don’t know how you are coping with that. I don’t know what you are doing about the feeding because majority of them are down-trodden. I don’t know if it is true, if it is true, let us know what to do about that.”
