The Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon. Dr. Gift Worlu, has personally visited the scene of a devastating fire that ravaged homes in the Oro-Owo community, Rumueme Kingdom, offering solidarity and promising swift support to affected families.
The inferno, which broke out on Sunday, February 1, 2026, left several households in ruins, though mercifully no lives were lost in the blaze.
During the on-the-spot assessment on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, the chairman made it clear his mission went beyond mere inspection. “I am here not just to see the damage, but to stand with our people in their moment of pain,” Worlu told journalists at the scene. “The government has a sacred duty to care for its citizens, especially when disaster strikes.”
Dr. Worlu assured victims that the council would explore every avenue to ease their hardship and facilitate recovery, while working closely with the community to determine the fire’s cause and prevent a repeat tragedy.
He pointedly blamed substandard housing and unsafe practices for making such incidents more likely, urging residents to embrace modern building codes and improved living standards.
“Obio/Akpor is no longer a rural outpost; it has become a bustling urban centre,” he stressed. “We must adopt safety-conscious designs and habits that protect lives and property.”
In a major policy disclosure, the chairman revealed that the local government is fast-tracking the establishment of a dedicated Emergency Management System, expected to be fully operational before mid-2026.
The new framework, he said, would bolster manpower, equipment, and overall crisis response capabilities across the area.
The visit drew a strong turnout of local leaders and stakeholders, including Councillor Hon. Ohazurume Chukwu (Ward 10), Supervisor for Youth, Sports and Culture, Ward 10 Chairman Promise Ogwutum Amadi, Prof. Nlerum (former Provost, Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology), former CTC Chairman Hon. Noble Amadi, Chief Bob Chukwu, Queenth Akaninwa, and other prominent figures from Rumueme.
Dr. Worlu’s engagement comes amid growing calls for proactive measures to address fire risks in densely populated urban wards of Obio/Akpor, where rapid development has sometimes outpaced safety enforcement.
