Kano state government would soon unfold a post fire outbreak programme for victims of the Sabon Gari market fire incident, the state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has announced.
He explained that the programme would include resettling the victims at an appropriate location that would enable them go ahead with their day to day economic endeavors.
The governor announced this while receiving the governors of Gombe, Kebbi, Niger, Imo, Borno and Jigawa states, as well as Senators Barau Jibrin and Adamu Aliero, who visited him to commiserate with the people of the state over the inferno at Sabon Gari market, earlySaturday morning.
“I have already directed KNUPDA and metropolitan local government council chairmen to scout for a suitable site to relocate the affected traders, for the time being, to alleviate their plight”, the governor stated.
Describing the Sabon Gari fire incident that resulted in the loss of property worth billion of Naira as unfortunate, the governor also disclosed that the government would restructure markets in the state, to facilitate improved business transactions.
He said the restructuring would start at Kantin Kwari market with the provision of roads, culverts and fire service points as well as the provision of collapsible structures for petty traders, in place of the present wooden structures that tend to obstruct passage and create obstacles for emergency interventions during fire or other incidents.
“I want to assure our traders that none of them will lose a place to earn a living”, the governor assured, appealing to traders in the state to cooperate with the state government towards finding lasting solution to the problem of fire outbreaks in markets.
Governor Ganduje told the visitors that a combined effort of the state Fire service men and firemen from the private sector could not douse the Sabon gari market fire swiftly because of makeshift obstructions on the road network in the market.
The governor appealed to the Federal government and well meaning individuals and groups to support victims of the fire incident and thanked the Progressive Governors Forum as well as the Northern Governors Forum for identifying with the government and people of Kano state during this trying period.
He used the occasion to sympathy with the government and people of Kebbi state over the inferno that destroyed Birnin Kebbi market, praying Almighty Allah to prevent its recurrence.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman, Progressive Governors Forum, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state and the Chairman, Northern Governors Forum, Alhaji Kashim Shettima pledged to offer support to the victims of the Sabon Gari fire incident, describing the incident as pathetic.
