BREAKING NEWS, Business
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GOVERNOR Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State has commiserated with the people and governments of Kano and Kebbi states over the market fire incidents on Saturday, March 26. Abubakar said he was saddened by the fire incidents and shared in the pain of the victims knowing that the two fire incidents had created major setbacks for all those that had business outfits in the markets, thereby affecting the livelihood of their families and setting back economic activities in the states.
The governor in a statement he personally signed on Saturday, March 26, prayed that Allah restore their losses.
About N2 trillion worth of goods were said to have destroyed in Kano market’s fire outbreak, which affected more than 3,800 shops. The National Emergency Management Agency, MEMA, described the inferno as Nigeria’s worst market fire disaster.
On his part, the emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi ll, has called on the federal and state governments to launch an investigation immediately.
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has inaugurated a nine-man committee to assess the level of damage and the traders affected.
The committee, chaired by Alin Bagadaza, was also mandated to advise the government on how to resettle the affected traders. The committee was given five days to submit its report.
Speaking to newsmen earlier, Nafi’u Nuhu Indabo Nafi’u Nuhu Indabo, chairman of Sabon Gari Market traders’ association, said more than 75 percent of the market was burnt down.
He said: “Many traders lost both goods and cash in the fire. Only God knows what we actually lost to the fire, but sincerely speaking traders have lost a fortune.”
He lamented that the fire started in the night when there was nobody in the market to take preventive measures against its spread.
During a visit to the market, Sani Sidi, director general of NEMA, who confirmed to reporters that more than 3,800 shops were burnt down by the fire, disclosed that 15 people were hospitalised for inhaling too much smoke and minor injuries.
Sidi said: “This is the biggest market fire outbreak Nigeria has ever witnessed. This is a serious calamity.”
In Birnin Kebi, the fire gutted the Central Market, just as Kano was experiencing a similar disaster. Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu visited the market earlier on Saturday, March 26, after the fire had been successfully put off. Properties and goods worth millions of naira were said to have been destroyed in the inferno. During the visit the governor commiserated with all those affected and assessed the damage caused by the tragic fire along with other government officials.
— Mar 28, 2016 @ 14:50 GMT
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