Kogi State Government has donated over N34 million to victims of the GSM village fire Incident at the Paparanda section of Lokoja.
The Deputy Governor, Joel Salifu Oyibo while presenting the cheques to affected victims on Wednesday said that the payment of the compensation was a testament to the incumbent government administration’s commitment to supporting those affected by the fire disaster.
It could be recalled that the GSM village was razed by fire on 12 September 2024 leading to the destruction of shops and properties worth millions of Naira.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo visited the scene the second day and set up a committee headed by the Executive Secretary of State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA) to look into the remote cause of the incident to compensate those affected.
Fulfilling the promise, the Deputy Governor who double as the Chairman of the Board of State Emergency Management handed cheques to those affected by the fire incident.
He said their administration remains dedicated to providing immediate relief and long-term support to all Kogites.
He said: “We came here after the fire incident and promised you that we would come back. We sympathize with all the victims of the incident.
“The committee has done an inventory of those affected by the fire incident, and we are going to compensate people according to the enumeration process. We are here today to fulfill the promise we made to you.”
The Executive Secretary of Kogi State Emergency Management Agency, (KOSEMA), Muktar Atimah handed over the cheques to the victims, with some going home with N5 million, N1 million, and some N500,000.00
Atimah said those who have shops and sell phones and phone accessories were given a higher amount than those who were just phone repairers.
He however announced that the committee has recommended the relocation of the GSM Village,
“This committee was set up the second day after the incident and given two weeks to deliver a verdict.
“Part of the committee recommendation is that the GSM village should be relocated for safety purposes.
“We are also happy that the governor responded quickly and approved the sum of N34.2m we estimated as compensation to affected victims.
“This shows that the governor is feeling what you’re facing.
“We checked the cash flow and business account of victims, we went forensics before we arrived at the estimations. This was done devoid of religion, tribe, or political affiliations of the affected victims.
Reacting to the good gesture by the Governor, the Secretary of the GSM Village Phone Association, Miracle Elom expressed their appreciation for the compensation given to them and promised to make good use of the money.
The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr. Yahaya Farouq, the member representing Lokoja 1 in the state Assembly, Bin-Ebiya Shehu Tijani, and other government appointees were present at the presentation.
(Kogi Flame)
