Abuja Market Inferno:  Senate Asks FCDA, AMAC to Allocate Rehabilitated Shops to Victims 

–        Advocates quality healthcare access for every Nigerian

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja 

The senate, Thursday, urged the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), to re-allocate shops affected by fire outbreak at the Karu Main Market recently to their original owners after the ongoing reconstruction.

The red chamber also urged the federal government through its Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, Social Development and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to urgently make emergency palliative and relief provisions to cushion the effect of fire on the victims. 

The red chamber consequently mandated its committees on Environment and Legislative Compliance, to ensure strict compliance with the resolutions and report back within four weeks.

The resolutions were sequel to a motion sponsored to that effect by Senator Ireti Kingibe (Labour Party FCT).

Kingibe in the motion titled: “The Karu Fire Outbreak and the Need for Safer Public Places”, informed the senate that the fire outbreak that occurred on June 27, 2024, left scores of traders in tears after goods worth billions of naira were destroyed.

Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has said the National Assembly would ensure that every Nigerian has access to quality healthcare.

He said this at a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) held in Abuja on Wednesday.

The public hearing was on: “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital, Toro, Bauchi State (Amendment), Bill, 2024 and National Eye Centre Doma, Nasarawa State (Establishment) Bill, 2024”.

Declaring the event open, Akpabio who was represented by Sen. Osita Ngwu said that lawmakers must ensure every Nigerian had access to the care he or she needs.

He said, “We must ensure that every Nigerian has access to the care he needs, when he needs it. By supporting these bills, we are fulfilling our constitutional mandate and demonstrating our dedication to the health and welfare of our people.”

Sen. Shehu Buba (APC-Bauchi) sponsored the for bill for an act to provide for the establishment for the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital, Toro, Bauchi State.

He said that the hospital when established would proffer comprehensive orthopaedic care for joint replacement, fracture, arthritis which was essentially what the people of the north-eastern part of the country lacked, particularly Bauchi State.

His words: “It will also bring healthcare closer to the people at a reduced cost compared to private hospitals and will equally drastically reduce health tourism to other countries. 

“It will stimulate economic growth, foster inter-regional integration and create job opportunities.

“It will deter patients from patronising traditional bone setters who enjoy patronage in the absence of specialised orthopaedic hospitals.”