Dogara seeks probe into Calabar viewing centre tragedy

SPEAKER, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has urged the Cross River State government to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of soccer fans in Calabar.

He expressed sadness over the incident which led to the death of football fans in a viewing centre.

A statement issued by the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Turaki Hassan, said Dogara called for a probe of the incident with a view to holding responsible anyone found wanting.

The speaker condoled with both the families of those who lost their lives and the survivors of incident who were still receiving treatment.

“It is my ardent hope that survivors are receiving adequate care, and the state government is taking the necessary steps to avoid a recurrence of such a sad incident,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has concluded plans to investigate an electrocution incident which  happened in Calabar, Cross Rivers.

It said a preliminary report of its investigation indicated that the accident occurred when an 11KV high tension line under which a television viewing centre was constructed snapped causing the electrocution of some of the occupants of the viewing centre, with some others sustaining various degrees of injuries.

This was stated in a statement by the Head of Public Affairs Department, Usman Abba Arabi, at the weekend in Abuja.

It explained that a team of its experts had been dispatched to the scene of the accident to investigate the remote and immediate cause of the unfortunate occurrence.

The commission assured that the   the outcome of the investigation will be made public.

“We are also using this opportunity to remind the industry operators and members of the public of the need for strict observance of the Health and Safety Codes for the industry,”it added.

Similarly, the Youth and Sports Development Minister, Solomon Dalung, has expressed  shock and grief over the incident, describing it as unfortunate.

The Minister, in a statement by the Head of Press Unit, Tolu Makinde, however, commended steps already taken by the state government in setting up a commission of enquiry to look into remote and immediate causes of the incident with a view to preventing future occurrence.

It reads:“It is saddening and tragic that what was a happy and joyous relaxation spot for football fans at one moment could suddenly turn into a scene of tragedy of monumental proportion the next minute. The entire football family and indeed sports lovers in Nigeria are saddened by this unfortunate incident.