The government would provide the necessary support to enable the affected businesses to resume operations in the near future, while measures would also be taken to prevent a recurrence of such an incident
By Frank Ulom
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Published on August 22, 2026
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3 min read
The Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prince Bassey Otu, has assured victims of the fire that ravaged a section of the SPAR shopping complex in Calabar of the state government’s support, as his Deputy, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Peter Odey, on Saturday, visited the scene to assess the situation and offer solidarity to those affected.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor to reporters at the scene, Dr Peter Odey expressed sympathy to all those affected by the fire, noting that he had spoken with the store manager. He said the cause of the fire, which might have been electrical, had yet to be ascertained.
Odey assured the victims that the government would not abandon them in their trying moment, adding that the Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) was already taking steps to assess the extent of the damage and provide immediate relief.
He further assured them that the government would provide the necessary support to enable the affected businesses to resume operations in the near future, while measures would also be taken to prevent a recurrence of such an incident.
Speaking on the fire incident, the Deputy Governor maintained that the Cross River State Fire Service had been adequately equipped to respond to emergencies of this nature and had responded promptly. He also commended the Federal Fire Service for joining efforts to contain the blaze.
He appreciated the firefighters who put their lives on the line to ensure that the fire was brought under control, while also commending the police and other security agencies for maintaining security at the scene and preventing the affected shops from being looted.
Assuring citizens that the government would continue to respond promptly to emergencies, the Deputy Governor disclosed that water was already being redirected from Channel 1, adding that houses along that line would no longer be at risk of collapse.
He regretted that Calabar had, within a short period, experienced a series of calamities, including fires and landslides. He stated that the State Government was already working in partnership with federal agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), and the National Ecological Fund, to respond to the situation and support those affected.
