Kano market fire: We lost N2tr -Sarkin Kasuwa

Kano market fire: We lost N2tr -Sarkin Kasuwa

Kano market fire: We lost N2tr -Sarkin Kasuwa

—Bauchi gov commiserates with victims

From Yusha’u A. Ibrahim, Kano & Balarabe Alkassim, Bauchi

The Sarkin Kasuwa of Sabon Gari market, Alhaji Nafi’u Nuhu Indabo

yesterday said goods worth close to N2tr were lost to the Friday’s

fire outbreak in the market.

Indabo told newsmen that over 75 percent of the market was burnt down

by the fire. “Many traders lost both goods and cash to the

fire. Sincerely speaking, traders lost a lot of wealth,” he said, adding, “a most unfortunate thing is that the fire started in

the night when there was nobody in the market to do anything about it.”

The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Sani Sidi, said a total of 3,800 shops were

completely burnt down by the fire and 15 people were hospitalized for

suffocation and minor injuries.

Sidi stated this when he paid a sympathy visit to the victims of

Sabon-Gari fire incident yesterday, saying, “This is a serious calamity that

consumed a lot of money.”

Meanwhile, the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi ll, has called on

the federal and state governments to investigate the causes of the recent fire outbreaks in some Kano markets and schools.

The emir who made the call during a special press conference

shortly after he visited Sabon-Gari market yesterday, also called on

the Kano state government to consider restructuring all Kano markets to meet sound safety standards.

Sanusi urged traders to imbibe the culture of Islamic insurance

(Takaful) to help them recover losses in case of

disaster like fire the outbreak. He also advised them to avoid keeping money in their shops.

In another development, the Kano State Governor, Abdulllahi Umar

Ganduje has inaugurated a 9-man committee to assess the level of

damage caused by the fire and the traders affected.

The committee chaired by Alhaji Alin Bagadaza was mandated to

advise government on resettling the affected traders. It was

given five days to submit its report.

From Bauchi State, Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar has conveyed his sympathy to the government and people of Kano and Kebbi states.

In a statement signed by the governor’s Press Secretary, Abubakar Al-Sadiq, the governor sympathized with his Kano and Kebbi state counterparts over the market fire at Sabon Gari Market in Kano and a market in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital over the weekend.

“I am very saddened by the fire that gutted the Sabon Gari market in Kano today. I commiserate with my friend and colleague, Governor Ganduje, the people of Kano State and everybody affected by the fire. I also commiserate with Governor Bagudu and the people of Kebbi State on the Birnin Kebbi central market fire. May Allah restore all losses,” the governor stated.