Market fire: Buhari sympathises with Tambuwal

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his sympathy and solidarity with victims of the Sokoto Central Market fire incident.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President noted that the incident must have been traumatic for its victims.

“I am deeply moved by this fire incident because of its huge adverse impact on the economic life of the people who struggle daily to earn a living.

“To see your investments go up in flames is particularly painful and I sincerely send my sympathy and solidarity with all the victims and pray to God to replenish your losses,” he said.

While directing federal aid agencies to respond to the urgent needs of the victims of the disaster, President Buhari called on market authorities to train traders and facility managers on basic safety precautions to forestall frequency of fire outbreaks.

Read Also: Buhari sympathises with Sokoto Market fire victims according to him, once the traders are trained on the risk factors, it will go a long way to minimise the frequency of fire outbreaks at business places.”

Meanwhile, Governor Tambuwal has established a high-powered committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the burning of Sokoto Central Market on Tuesday. The Deputy Governor, Manir Dan Iya heads the committee.

The committee, which is expected to make recommendations to the state government after its investigation is also mandated to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the inferno, assess the extent of the damage wrought by the incident, recommend compensation for those who lost their property, and make recommendations on how to forestall future occurrence.

Tambuwal, who cancelled an official trip outside the state to visit the Gandu scene of the fire disaster said the committee will be inaugurated soon.

Other members of the committee, according to a release by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Governor Muhammad Bello are the Chairman of the State House of Assembly (SOHA) Committee on Commerce, the Commissioners for Commerce and Lands and Housing, Bashir Gidado and Aminu Bala Bodinga respectively.

Also, members are the representative of the  Sultanate Council, the Director-General of the  Central Market, Director-General of the State Fire Service, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma, the President of the state Chamber of Commerce, the respective Chairmen of the state Traders’ Association and the Central Market Traders, Shiekh Bello Yabo and Alhaji Namadina Abdul-Rahman.

In a related development, the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday donated N500 million to support the Sokoto State government in rebuilding the Sokoto Central Market ravaged by fire on Tuesday.

Wike, who visited the scene of the incident expressed shock and dismay over the incident.