Calabar SPAR Inferno: Governor Otu Pledges Support as Fire Ravages Multimillion-Naira Shopping Mall

A devastating fire outbreak has ravaged the popular SPAR shopping mall in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, destroying goods and infrastructure estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of naira. The incident, which threw the state capital into a state of panic, saw thick black smoke billow into the atmosphere as shoppers and workers scrambled for safety. Witnesses report that the fire spread rapidly through sections of the facility before emergency responders could fully gain control of the situation.

Reacting swiftly to the disaster, the Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, paid an unscheduled visit to the scene of the incident to assess the level of destruction. Visibly moved by the wreckage, the Governor expressed deep sadness over the monumental loss, emphasizing that SPAR is not just a corporate entity but a critical driver of the local economy and an essential employer of labour in the state. According to reports from early responders, the exact cause of the inferno remains subject to official confirmation, though unconfirmed accounts indicate a potential electrical malfunction within the complex.

During his physical assessment of the ruins, Governor Otu assured the management of the retail giant and the individual concessionaires operating within the mall of his administration's unwavering commitment to their recovery. He noted that the state government would work hand-in-hand with the management to establish immediate intervention protocols. "We cannot fold our arms and watch our business community suffer such monumental losses without a cushion from the government," Otu declared, signaling a structured approach to the looming economic rehabilitation of the victims.