About N2 trillion worth of goods were destroyed in Kano market’s fire outbreak, weekend, the traders’ association said yesterday.
Also, Nigeria’s disaster management agency, NEMA, said over 3,800 shops were burnt in the inferno which it described as the worst market fire disaster in Nigeria.
On his part, the emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi ll, has called on the federal and state governments to launch an investigation immediately.
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has inaugurated a 9-man committee to assess the level of damage and the traders affected.
The committee, chaired by Alhaji Alin Bagadaza, was also mandated to advise the government on how to resettle the affected traders. The committee has five days to submit its report.
Speaking to newsmen earlier, the chairman of Sabon Gari Market traders’ association, Alhaji Nafi’u Nuhu Indabo said over 75 per cent of the market was burnt down.
He said: “Many traders lost both goods and cash in the fire. Only God knows what we actually lost to the fire, but sincerely speaking traders have lost a fortune.”
He lamented that the fire started in the night when there was nobody in the market to take preventive measures against its spread.
During a visit to the market, NEMA Director General Alhaji Sani Sidi, confirmed to reporters that 3,800 shops were burnt down by the fire.
He added that 15 people were hospitalised for inhaling too much smoke and minor injuries.
Sidi said: “This is the biggest market fire outbreak Nigeria has ever witnessed. This is a serious calamity.”
On assistance, Sidi said an assessment of the situation was ongoing which would determine the level of help to be rendered to the victims.
He assured the victims that help would soon come their way.
Addressing the press after visiting the scene of the disaster, the emir Malam Muhammadu Sanusi ll, asked the federal and state governments to investigate all the causes of recent fire outbreaks in some Kano markets and schools.
The emir also called on the Kano state government to restructure all Kano markets in order to modernise them and make them safe.
Sanusi called on the traders to imbibe the culture of Islamic insurance (Takaful) so as to recover their losses in case of disasters.
Traders recount losses
When our correspondent visited the market yesterday the affected traders were seen clearing their shops, while thousands of sympathizers continued trooping to the market to sympathize with the affected traders.
Speaking to Daily Trust, the chairman Sabon-Gari United Traders Association, Alhaji Alin Bagadaza said: “It is too early for us to make assessment, but losses were huge.”
He said the executives of the union had met with Governor Ganduje who had agreed to their request that victims be allowed clear the rubble from their shops and to continue with business.
He said the government had provided them with 60 tippers and 12 loaders and other heavy equipment to evacuate the debris.
Uwaisu Ali Baba, who sells shoes, said his three shops had been burnt. He said: “Blocks A, B, C, D, L were burnt and goods worth billions of naira destroyed.”
He said approximately over 18,000 traders were affected by the disaster.
“Concerning the estimate of cash lost, I cannot do that because many people have lost cash. I know somebody who lost over N300m,” he stated.
Another victim, Isma’ila Sani, said he lost over N15m. “I was not able to remove even a pair of shoes,” adding, “my brothers also lost about N7m in the disaster.
‘We have left everything to God. But to be honest with you we have to start from the scratch. We have lost both goods and cash.”
He called on the government to investigate and punished those found culpable.
When our correspondent visited the market yesterday around 12pm, fire fighters were still battling to extinguish fresh outbreak that engulfed more shops.
A fire service official, Muhammad Abdullahi said they were on routine checks when they noticed fire in some of the shops.
“We are still battling with the fire. The fire is still ravaging goods. We will continue doing our best to put it off,” he assured.
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