By Bashir Mohammed
Kano
Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, yesterday said a total of 3,800 shops were completely burn down by the fire and 15 people hospitalised for suffocation and minor injuries.
Sani-Sidi stated this when he paid a sympathy visit to the victims of Sabon-Gari fire incident yesterday, adding that “this is the biggest market fire outbreak Nigeria ever witnessed. This is a serious calamity that consumed a lot of money.”
On the issue of assistance, Sani-Sidi said the agency could not ascertain the level of assistance it would render until the ongoing assessment was completed.
He, therefore, appealed to the victims of the disaster to be patient and bear with the agency, assuring that “after the assessment, the agency will give assistance to the victims of the disaster.”
Meanwhile, the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi ll, has called on
the federal and state governments to as a matter of urgency 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 held shortly after he visited Sabon-Gari market yesterday, called on the Kano state government to look into the possibility of
restructuring all Kano markets in order to meet the standard.
Sanusi also urged traders to imbibe the culture of Islamic insurance (Takaful), saying “this will help them recover their lost in case of disaster like fire outbreak.”
The emir cautioned traders to avoid keeping monies in their shops, saying it was high time for Kano traders to modernise their method of business in order to meet with the global trend of business.
Sanusi, who sympathised with victims of the unfortunate incidence, charged them not to be distracted by the disaster in their struggle to make a living out of their respective trades.
In another development, Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdulllahi Umar Ganduje, has inaugurated a nine-man committee to assess the level of damage caused by the fire and the traders affected.
The committee, chaired by Alhaji Alin Bagadaza, was also mandated to advise government on resettle the affected traders.
The committee was given five days to submit its report.