By Gbolahan Salman, Sokoto
Sokoto State governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has set up a committee to take stock of properties and other valuables lost due to the fire incident at the state central market on Tuesday.
Speaking at the market while on inspection of the fire incidence, Tambuwal said the commitee headed by the state deputy governor, Manir Dan’iya, is to report to government after it assignment.
He urged members of the committee to itemize losses suffered by traders so as to make way for government to come in to assist in order to cushion the on the traders.
He described the incident as a sad development, while appealing to all the traders to remain calm and prayerful.
He appealed to them not to give opportunity to the hoodlums to enter into the market and help themselves with people’s goods.
Other members of the committee include chairman State House of Assembly Committee on Commerce, Commissioner for Land, Commissioner for Commerce, representative of Sultanate Council, DG, Central Market as well as DG, Fire Service.
Also on the list are Chairman, Board of Central Market, President, Sokoto Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Sokoto market traders’ association and Sheikh Bello Yabo.
A large section of the market was engulfed in an early morning inferno, which cause has not been ascertained, as at the time of going to press.
However, there was no loss of lives but goods worth billions of naira were burnt while the lucky ones among the traders were able to salvage their wares.
Fire fighters were unable to gain access into the market to curtail the inferno, until a section of the market was bulldozed for firefighting trucks to access the market, before the fire was brought under control.
Earlier before the arrival of the governor, the state Deputy Governor Manir Dan’iya was on hand to supervise the fire fighters and other security agencies.
