By Bashir Mohammed
Kano
Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sani-Sidi, has confirmed that 19 people lost their lives following Wednesday’s deadly GSM market blast in Kano.
Sidi-Sidi said yesterday at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) while presenting drugs and other consumables to the hospitals treating victims of the blast who had sustained various degrees of injury.
According to him, it was the mandate of the national emergency management (NEMA) to quickly respond to emergency situation, adding that the Kano blast was an episode considered to be serious by the federal government.
The NEMA boss, who was represented by the Director, Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Charles Otegbede, said the success recorded in rescuing victims of the blast that had survived was as result of effective collaboration between NEMA officials on ground and other stakeholders.
He stressed that the feat would not have been achieved without government commitment and sincerity of purpose.
He also appreciated the concern of some good Samaritans in donating bloods to the victims, saying it was NEMA mission to ensure that all that was needed were procured.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the three hospitals, the Chief Medical Director of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Dr. Sani Mijinyawa, said the quick response by NEMA was an effort worth appreciating, adding that with judicious management of the drugs, donated in the past by NEMA victims of the blast were poised to benefit immensely.
The chief medical director, who was represented by Director Pharmacy of the hospital, Pharm. Habibu Uba Ringim, described the gesture as “timely,” saying the federal government should be commended for showing concern to those afflicted by the deadly suicide attack.
