FG APPROVES N515M RELIEF PACKAGE FOR CALABAR FIRE VICTIMS

The Federal Government has approved N515 million in relief funds for business owners affected by the fire that destroyed several businesses at the SPAR shopping mall in Calabar, Cross River State. The intervention was announced by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu during her visit to the state, where she also launched the South-South phase of the National Community Foodbank Programme.

According to the First Lady, President Bola Tinubu approved N25 million each for 18 business owners whose shops were affected by the August 22 fire outbreak. The allocation amounts to N450 million and is intended to provide immediate financial support to the affected entrepreneurs as they begin efforts to rebuild their businesses and recover from the losses suffered in the incident.

An additional N50 million was presented to the wife of the Cross River State Governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, to support women’s groups, while another N15 million was given to women who welcomed the First Lady during her visit to the state. Oluremi Tinubu said the President sympathised with the government and people of Cross River over the incident, which reportedly destroyed property worth billions of naira and disrupted several livelihoods.

Receiving the relief package, Governor Bassey Edet Otu expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and the First Lady for what he described as timely assistance to the affected business owners. He said the intervention would help the entrepreneurs restart their businesses, restore their sources of income and recover from the economic impact of the fire.

The First Lady’s visit also featured the commissioning of the National Community Foodbank Programme for the South-South region, aimed at improving access to nutritious food and supporting vulnerable households. The initiative, alongside the financial assistance to the fire victims, forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to strengthen social protection and provide support to Nigerians facing economic difficulties.