Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia
The business community and entire residents of the commercial city of Aba have been urged to embrace the culture of getting insurance policies to cover their properties and businesses in order to reduce losses in the event of unforeseen disasters.
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chimaobi Ebisike made the call when he visited the scene of a fire incident at Aba South Local Government Area, saying that it was high time people started buying insurance policies.
The fire outbreak which razed a house on Zion Street off Ngwa Road, claimed the life of a young girl and left her aged mother seriously injured and presently battling for her life in a hospital.
The federal lawmaker, who represents Aba North/Aba South federal constituency in the National Assembly, said that he was saddened by the ugly incident which resulted to loss of life and destruction of properties in his constituency.
He told residents that with an insurance policy it would be easier for landlords and business owners to indemnify their properties and businesses in the event of unforeseen disasters like fire incidents thereby minimising losses.
According to him, after validating a claim for insured loss, insurance companies would normally issue payments to the value of the loss incurred hence the need for members of Aba business community to buy insurance policies.
The lawmaker further counselled Aba residents to avoid careless handling of inflammable substances to avoid fire outbreaks and its attendant havoc.
Hon. Ebisike, who is the newest member of the National Assembly, donated N1 million to the aged mother of the fire victim to assist in offsetting her medical bills as she battles for her own life in a hospital.
Earlier an eye witness, Tochukwu Ihekoronye had told the federal lawmaker and his entourage that the fire incident was caused by a lantern explosion. He said that the deceased and her mother had moved into the house barely a week before the unfortunate incident.
The landlady, Mrs. Virginia Nwosu, who is a widow, expressed gratitude to the Aba federal lawmaker for coming to sympathise with the victims of the fire incident and assisting in efforts to help the critically injured survive.
