C’River Residents, Shoppers Laud SPAR Reopening, Urge Otu to Assist Fire Victims
By Ekanem Asuquo
Residents of Calabar, the Cross River State capital, and regular shoppers at Calabar Mall have commended Calabar Retailment Centre, managers of SPAR Shopping Mall, for reopening the facility weeks after the August 22 fire that damaged parts of the complex.
The shoppers, who spoke with our reporter during a visit to assess rehabilitation efforts at the mall, said the reopening would restore access to a major shopping centre, boost commercial activities and provide relief to businesses and workers affected by the incident.
They said reopening ahead of the Christmas season would enable residents to plan their shopping and access quality products, while also catering to tourists expected in Calabar for the annual Calabar Carnival.
The residents also appealed to Governor Bassey Otu to complement the N25 million support announced by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for the 18 business owners affected by the fire.
One of the shoppers, Umo Bassey, commended the mall’s management for its efforts to restore operations, saying the development would provide relief to customers, workers, traders and service providers whose livelihoods depend on the facility.
“I want to commend the mall managers for the proactive measures they have taken to expedite the reopening. The development will enable us to shop for Christmas and restore normal commercial activities,” he said.
Also speaking, a public servant, Gladys Owen, said the reopening would help meet the shopping needs of residents and tourists during the carnival season.
She urged the state government and mall management to ensure that adequate safety measures were put in place to prevent a recurrence.
Another resident, Bassey Ekpo, appealed for additional government assistance for the affected businesses, noting that many traders had invested substantial resources in their outlets and merchandise.
“I want to thank President Tinubu for his humane gesture towards the 18 business owners who suffered losses in the inferno. The state government should also do its part to complement the President’s efforts,” he said.
Findings showed that rehabilitation work had commenced on the affected sections, while several shop owners had resumed skeletal operations at the mall’s Event Centre, which has been renamed Price Market.
One of the affected traders, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the temporary arrangement as a major relief and an indication that the affected businesses had not been abandoned.
“First and foremost, I want to once again express appreciation to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and President Bola Tinubu for the humane gesture extended to us. They have saved many of us from depression. We are praying that our People First Governor and the First Lady of the state will complement President Tinubu’s gesture to facilitate the quick restoration of our businesses, which are our sources of livelihood,” she said.
She also commended the mall’s management for providing temporary space for affected traders to restart their businesses.
The residents further called for the revamp of the state fire service and stronger emergency response systems around major commercial facilities to prevent future disasters.
