The Akwa Ibom government has assured the family that lost two children to the inferno in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government and owners of destroyed properties worth millions of naira of rehabilitation. 

Gov Udom Emmanuel who gave the assurance when he visited the scene of the fire incident in Mkpang Utong Village in Ibaka, described the destruction as devastating. 

The governor, represented by the secretary to the state government (SSG), Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, said he was at the scene of the inferno to comfort the victims and ascertain the level of damage and the support to be given to the victims to ameliorate their sufferings. 
“What I have seen here is devastating. No single house or home is spared here. My people’s sources of livelihood have been destroyed. These people are about to start from the scratch and therefore need support, succour and huge encouragement,” the governor said. 
The state chief executive condoled the bereaved family and sympathised with owners of destroyed properties and urged them to remain calm as his administration also shared in their grief and pains. 

“On behalf of myself and the good people of Akwa Ibom, I condole the family of the two young kids whose future had been terminated by fire. May the soul of those two young children rest in perfect peace. 

‘‘I also pray the good Lord to grant the parents of those kids and all of us who owned them the fortitude to bear the loss because it is not easy to lose a loved one. We feel the pains that you are feeling”, the governor stated. 
Emmanuel, who described Ibaka as an emerging city in the state, stressed the need for proper planning of the area for security and safety of the residents and called on them to have fire extinguishers at home. 

He used the opportunity to call on the people of the area to get registered in the ongoing voter registration exercise. 

The chairman of Mbo Local Government, Mr Asukwo Eyo, thanked the governor for being responsive and sensitive to the plight of Mbo people, noting that the visit was a demonstration of his love to the people of the oil-rich local government. 

Also speaking, the president-general of Oron Union, Mrs Janet Amba, lauded the governor for his show of love to Oro nation. 

On his part, the president of Ibaka Development Organization (IDO), Mr Okon Ukutuda, appealed to the government at all levels, non-governmental organizations and philanthropic individuals and organizations to help in cushioning the effect of rampant fire incidents in the area. 

Ukutuda listed the lost items to include houses, outboard engines, generating sets, deep freezers, sewing machines, fishing nets and boats as well as canoes. 

He appealed to the state government to provide the community with a fire service station and assist in the redesigning of the area to forestall future fire incident. The village head of Mkpang Utong in Ibaka, Chief Okon Peter, regretted the loss suffered by his people and wondered what they will do next to feed their families. 
The governor presented financial packages to the victims of the fire disaster and also paid a visit to the Ahta Oro and paramount ruler of Mbo, Ovong Edet Isemin, in his palace at Ibaka.

Source: http://www.pioneernewsonline.com/news/gov-emmanuel-assures-ibaka-fire-victims-of-rehabilitation

Did the fire department show up in a reasonable amount of time. When fire broke out in Uyo the came an hour later. I doubt if the fire caused as much damage as story suggest mere fire extinguishers would have solved funding. APC Akwa Ibom made a valid critisms about the states funding of the fire department.

Emmanuel, who described Ibaka as an emerging city in the state, stressed the need for proper planning of the area for security and safety of the residents and called on them to have fire extinguishers at home. 

He appealed to the state government to provide the community with a fire service station and assist in the redesigning of the area to forestall future fire incident. 

How many fire stationd does the state have?