- Ready to offset medical bills
- Directs officials on compensation plans
BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – Touched by the devastation arising from last Saturday’s explosion at Fonex Gas facility in Calabar South Local Government Area of the State, Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River has pledged his administration’s readiness to offset the medical bills of all affected victims.
Several residents were severely injured and properties worth millions of Naira destroyed when an explosion occurred at Fonex Gas, a private petrol and gas filling station located at the densely populated neighbourhood along Edibe Edibe road in Calabar South.
Governor Otu, who personally visited the incident scene, expressed shock at the level of destruction and directed the State Ministry of Health to immediately undertake the documentation of all those affected by the misfortune.
According to him, officials must demonstrate empathy by visiting victims in the different medical facilities where they were rushed and currently receiving medical attention.
A statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Dr Erasmus Ekpang said Governor Otu has equally ordered appropriate government agency, including the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), to compile and assess all property destroyed as a result of the gas explosion to enable the government arrange payment of compensation to their owners.
The statement also urged security agencies to maintain maximum surveillance activities around areas surrounding the gas explosion site to forestall hoodlums from embarking on looting spree.
One tenant in the area, who gave his name as Mr Okon Hanson while thanking God that he narrowly escaped being injured in the explosion, blamed government agencies for granting approval for such high risk inflammable facility to be sited within a residential district.
According to him, all the residential buildings, as well as nearby shops were badly affected with most houses having their roofs and ceilings blown off due to the devastating effect of the massive explosion.
Our correspondent report that the explosion completely razed the gas, including its fuel and gas storage tanks, as well as vehicles parked within the premises.
The blast, which forced residents and business owners to flee for safety, saw several people sustaining serious injuries from the impact. While some were receiving first aid at nearby patent medicine stores, others were rushed to hospitals for further medical treatment.
As investigations continued on the possible cause of the blast, some residents claimed it may have been triggered by poor connection or expired electrical equipment near the petrol dispensing area.
