Following an outbreak of a major fire incident which has largely razed 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 nairas to provide urgent support to victims, pending assessment of the incident.
The Governor’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, in a statement on Sunday said Zulum made a broadcast soon after he had visited the scene of the incident and had mobilized armed forces to secure the area to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
The Governor who described the incident as sad and unfortunate called for calm.
Monday market disaster: @ProfZulum announces N1 billion for emergency relief, consoles victims; sets up assessment committee
… Calls for calm
… To meet @MBuhari
… Cautions against politicizing incident https://t.co/I68e2xbDdg pic.twitter.com/gVTrTEGEKJ— Governor Borno (@GovBorno) February 26, 2023
“This is very unfortunate but we believe that this is decreed by Allah. 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 pain of everyone affected by this incident. I commiserate with all of you. I kindly and most respectfully urge you to be calm and patient.
The Governor who empathised with the people of the State stated that the Borno State Government is already taking 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.”
#NigeriaDecides2023 #Presidentialelection2023 #NationalAssemblypolls2023 #MaiduguriMondayMarket#Maiduguri #Fire
Sun. Feb. 26. The Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has announced a relief package of N1 billion for the Maiduguri Monday Market fire victims. pic.twitter.com/YiJeGdaIyJ— Voice of Nigeria (@voiceofnigeria) February 26, 2023
“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 a 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. We will also reach out to other humanitarian establishments to seek help. We will be taking firm measures towards preventing reoccurrence of this fire disaster that has occurred in previous years,” he explained.
The Governor cautioned against politicizing the situation adding that “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.”
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. pic.twitter.com/QO5BdHyEP3
— Governor Borno (@GovBorno) February 26, 2023
Voice of Nigeria reports that the fire outbreak in Maiduguri Market, popularly know as Monday Market started around 2am and many shops were set ablaze. Security personnel and fire fighters are already on ground to contain the fire and prevent looting.
N.O
