BY TONY EDIKE
ENUGU—THE Federal Government, Friday, announced its intention to relocate the Enugu Prison yard currently located at the centre of Enugu State capital to a safer place.

Still reeling from Thursday’s fire tragedy that claimed no fewer than six lives and property worth millions of naira, the State Government has also  declared its willingness to cooperate with and assist the federal government in the speedy re-location of the prison.

The Minister of Interior Affairs, Comrade Patrick Moro who made the relocation plan known during a visit to Enugu to inspect the damage caused by the inferno, noted that due to the present situation of things at the prison yard which had been swallowed by increasing urbanization, relocation of the prisons to a better and safer environment has become very necessary.

He appealed to the state government to assist the federal government to make the relocation exercise possible and faster since the issue of security of life and property is the concern of all the levels of government.

The minister assured Nigerians that the administration of President Jonathan was determined to ensure their welfare and safety, adding that under the current government prisons reform programme, prison yards at Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Ekiti states will be relocated to better places.

Comrade Moro had earlier visited Governor Sullivan Chime at the Government House informing him that he was in the state to inspect, assess the extent of damage caused by the fire and also to sympathize with the victims and condole with those who lost their dear ones.

The minister described the fire incident as very sad and said that this visit would enable him find the immediate and long term solution to avoid future occurrence of such ugly disaster.

The Governor who was represented by the Deputy Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, said that the relocation of the prison yard was very necessary since the compound which used to be at the outskirts of the town had been swallowed up by urbanization.
Chime said that government will provide land and other logistics to make the relocation exercise faster so as to enable the staff continue to render their services to the state and Nigeria.

The governor described the fire incident as very unfortunate and tragic, adding that government would do every thing possible to alleviate the sufferings of those affected and the injured.

He also commended the minister for the visit and also the federal and state agencies including the state staff, fire officers, the Civil Defence Corps, the federal Road Safety Commission for their efforts to prevent the fire from spreading far into the Ogbete Market.

Thursday’s fire incident which consumed about 20 houses within the Prisons and Police barracks as well as some stores along the Railway line in Ogbete market, was caused by a loaded fuel tanker which fell and exploded as it negotiated a roundabout near the prison yard in the city.