Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has presented a cheque for N1 billion for onward disbursement to victims of the Monday Market fire disaster as an “emergency palliative” on Monday, 27th February, 2023, in Maiduguri, Borno state.
Zulum presented the cheque while hosting the victims, most of whom were traders at the Market, where shops and goods worth billions of naira were destroyed by the inferno that engulfed the market early Sunday 26 February 2023.
The Governor had, during a statewide broadcast on Sunday, announced a palliative of one billion nairas which came after he visited the scene and mobilized armed forces to secure the market.
Receiving the victims at the Government House in Maiduguri, he sympathizes with them over the “unfortunate the incident”. he said.
“As your governor, I will work with other stakeholders to do everything we can to provide the needed support to all victims,”
“I have the assurances of President Muhammadu Buhari that the federal government will complement the effort of the state government,”
The Governor appointed a former permanent secretary, Engr Malam Zarami Dungus as Chairman of the disbursement committee.
According to the Governor, the fund is meant to provide “urgent support” to the victims, pending other measures to be taken by the state government.
He directed that the committee should comprise “representatives of all stakeholders associated with the market” which include – a representative of the Monday Market joint forum; a representative from the traders association; and another representative from the Monday Market car park.
Zulum prayed that the disaster, which had happened on previous occasions, does not happen again, and promised that government intends to take far-reaching preventive measures during the reconstruction of the market.
The Maiduguri Monday Market, said to be the largest in the northeast, was completely burnt by a fire that lasted for some hours. The fire was said to begin between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. from the yet-to-be-ascertained cause.
Story: Ralia Adama
Media: Radio Nigeria/website
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