Otu Presents ₦25m Each to 18 SPAR Fire Victims in Calabar

Otu Presents ₦25m Each to 18 SPAR Fire Victims in Calabar

Cross River Governor says intervention will help affected businesses rebuild and restore livelihoods

CALABAR, September 28, 2026 — Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has presented cheques of ₦25 million each to 18 business owners affected by the August 22 fire incident at the SPAR Shopping Mall in Calabar.

The presentation took place at the Executive Chambers of the Governor’s Office, Calabar, as the state government moved to support the affected entrepreneurs in rebuilding their businesses and restoring their livelihoods.

The ₦25 million grants, totalling ₦450 million, were approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of a Federal Government relief intervention announced by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu during her September visit to Cross River State.

Otu: Government Must Respond to People in Difficult Times

Speaking during the presentation, Governor Otu said while accidents and unforeseen incidents could sometimes be unavoidable, the response of government to affected citizens remained important.

“I know that accidents happen, and there is sometimes little that anybody can do about them. But the important thing is how we respond to such unfortunate situations,” Otu said.

The Governor said his administration places emphasis on supporting small and medium-sized businesses because of their contribution to the economy and the livelihoods of residents.

“This government believes principally in supporting small businesses, recognising their importance to the economy and the livelihoods of our people. That is why we are prepared to provide support in every way possible,” he stated.

Otu Urges Beneficiaries to Rebuild Their Businesses

Governor Otu urged the beneficiaries to deploy the financial assistance productively and use it to rebuild sustainable livelihoods.

He stressed that the intervention should translate into productive economic activities and help the affected entrepreneurs recover from the losses suffered in the fire.

“It is important to mention at this point that the financial lifeline provided by Mr. President should be translated into productive lives and sustainable livelihoods,” Otu said.

The Governor assured the beneficiaries that his administration would continue to encourage and support them as they work towards stabilising their businesses.

The August 22 fire at the SPAR shopping mall affected several businesses and reportedly destroyed property worth billions of naira. The Cross River State Government had earlier pledged support to the affected businesses following an assessment of the incident.

Governor Commends President Tinubu

Otu expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and the Federal Government for the intervention, saying the support would help reduce the economic burden on the affected business owners and their families.

He also recalled the visit of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to Cross River State on September 1, 2026, during which she launched the South-South phase of the National Community Food Bank Programme.

The First Lady had announced that President Tinubu approved ₦25 million for each of the 18 affected business owners, amounting to ₦450 million, to provide immediate assistance and support their recovery.

Otu described the intervention as an example of what he termed compassionate leadership.

He also said the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda was focused on supporting vulnerable Nigerians and providing assistance to citizens facing difficult circumstances.

Otu Encourages Entrepreneurs to Access Government Support

The Governor further encouraged entrepreneurs in Cross River State to take advantage of government-supported business advisory services, soft loans and grants available through the ministry responsible for financing and enterprise development.

“The doors of the Ministry responsible for financing and enterprise development are always open to entrepreneurs seeking business advisory services, soft loans and grants,” Otu said.

He added that the administration would continue supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, describing the informal sector as an important component of the state’s economy.

SPAR Management, Beneficiaries Appreciate Government

Speaking during the presentation, Mr. Gbenga Ewarawon, Manager of SPAR Calabar, thanked President Tinubu and Governor Otu for their intervention and commitment to supporting businesses affected by the fire.

Also speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Andifonkan Samuel, Chief Executive Officer of AM Global, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, the Cross River State Government and other stakeholders for the assistance.

Samuel said the presence of government officials and other stakeholders at the presentation demonstrated the importance attached to restoring hope and helping affected businesses return to productive economic activity.

The beneficiaries also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the intervention, describing the support as an opportunity to begin the process of rebuilding after the devastating fire.