By Francis Sardauna
The federal government yesterday commiserated with the Katsina State Government and traders over the fire incident that destroyed hundreds of shops and stalls at the Katsina Central Market, and promised to assist the affected traders.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney- General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, who led the delegation to the state, told the state Governor, Aminu Bello Massri, at the Government House in Kastina that President Muhammadu Buhari was deeply concerned about the devastating effects of the inferno.
Malami was accompanied by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq; Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika; Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi; Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, among others.
THISDAY reported that the fire outbreak had last Monday morning gutted the Katsina Central Market, and destroyed hundreds of shops and stalls.
He explained that President Buhari sent the high-power delegation to commiserate with the victims and state government over the tragic incident, which he termed a huge loss to the state and the country at large.
The minister added that the federal government would work with the Katsina State Government to ascertain what can be done in terms of making necessary provisions or support for the victims of the inferno, which almost ravaged the entire market.
He said: “President Buhari is identifying with the government of Katsina State and looking at the possibility of working together with particular regard to see what can be done in terms of making necessary provisions as it relate with the people that were unfortunately afflicted by this incident.
Responding, the state Governor, Masari, said the state government would inaugurate administrative committee to find out the causes of the fire, the level of devastation, those affected and how the government can bring improvement to the market in order to forestall reoccurrence.
He added: “Certainly, for us in Katsina State, we have never witnessed the magnitude of the disaster in terms of fire outbreak like this one. We cannot precisely say how many shops and people were involved and the property that I believed worth billions.
“But we are setting up an administrative committee to find out the causes of the fire, the level of devastation, those affected and also to see how we can bring improvement to the market in order to forestall similar occurrence.”
