A renowned economist and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Alex Otti OFR has expressed sadness over the news of the trailer accident at the Aba Waterside Abattoir, popularly known as Ahia Udele, which claimed several lives.

Reacting to the sad news, Dr. Otti regretted that the insensitivity and insincerity of the state government has caused what he described as a tragedy of high proportion, insisting that if the government had kept to its repeated promises to relocate the abattoir and clean up the place, the loss of lives witnessed there would have been averted.

Otti maintained that the unhygienic environment of the Abattoir and its surroundings, as well as the life threatening hazardous stench that oozes out of the place were enough reasons for a serious minded government to have relocated the Abattoir and moved the traders to a safer and more hygienic environment.

The ex bank chief who described the loss of those innocent lives as painful and provocative, regretted a situation whereby government would wait for tragedies to occur before waking up to its responsibilities, and called on the government to ensure that all victims and their families are given the necessary moral and financial assistance to enable them cushion the effect of the tragedy on their various families.

Finally, Dr. Otti sent his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and prayed that God would give them the courage to overcome the pains associated with the death of their loved ones, while praying for the peaceful repose of the souls of the dead.