•Report by Kamil Opeyemi
Following a major fire outbreak which has largely raised down the Maiduguri Monday Market, Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has in a quick statewide broadcast, announced an emergency relief of one billion naira to provide urgent support to victims, pending assessment of the incident.
The governor’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, in a statement said Zulum made a broadcast soon after he had visited the scene of the incident and had mobilized armed forces.
“My fellow people of Borno State,
We woke up today with a very sad and unfortunate fire disaster at the Maiduguri Monday market. This is very unfortunate but we believe that this is decreed by Allah. Inna lillahi Wa inna ilayhi raajiun.
“I feel deeply pained by this incident and I know how painful it is for anyone to work hard over years to build his or her business but end up losing that investment in seconds. I really feel the pains of everyone affected by this incident,” Zulum was quoted as saying during the broadcast
Zulum commiserated with all the victims and urged them to be calm and patient.
He stressed that his government was already taking some drastic measures to ameliorate the situation.
“I have approved the release of one billion naira as emergency relief for us to quickly support victims of the disaster because we know that some of them may even have difficulty of surviving the next few days. Many rely on daily businesses in order to cater for themselves.
“We are setting up an assessment committee that will comprise respectable individuals from our society including representatives of the victims, for us to speedily assess damages, and take comprehensive list of those affected and their loses. I will also be holding meeting with leadership of the market and representatives of victims.
“I am going to see Mr President and seek for presidential intervention on how to get support for victims,” he said
Zulum also promised to reach out to other humanitarian establishments to seek help for the victims adding that firm measures towards preventing reoccurrence of such incident will be adequately taking into consideration.
“I will like to respectfully appeal to everyone for calmness. I know how you feel. I feel your pain and we will support you through whatever means we can, insha’Allah.
“In the meantime, I urge us not to politicize this unfortunate incident. I recognize that the incident is happening at a political time, but we all know the Monday market has unfortunately faced fire disaster in previous times and this is sad. We have to find ways of ensuring this unfortunate fire disaster does not happen again and we will work together to ensure this, bi iznillah to secure the area to prevent breakdown of law and order,” he stressed