Vice President Kashim Shettima has restated the Nigerian government’s resolve to work with the Kano State government and relevant government agencies to prevent the recurrence of fire outbreak in markets across the state.
The Vice President gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja when a delegation of the Association of Kano Business Community, led by its President, Alhaji Sabiu Bako, paid him a thank you visit in his office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He disclosed that all necessary documentation has been made by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to release the N5 billion pledge made by President Bola Tinubu to support traders and other victims of the inferno that razed several sections of the popular Kano Singer Market.
The inferno resulted in significant economic losses, including goods and business capital valued at billions of Naira.
He assured the delegation that President Tinubu has the people of Kano at heart, saying the N5 billion approved by the President as immediate relief for victims of the inferno was based on result of the preliminary assessment of the damages caused by the fire outbreak.
He said, “Be rest assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has you in heart. When the incident happened, he immediately directed me to proceed to Kano and sympathise with victims of the inferno. In fact, he gave the blanket cheque to make a recommendation on the support we should give to the government and people of Kano.
“And the N5 billion approved by the President was based on the outcome of your preliminary assessment of the damages; otherwise, if the level of damage was up to N20 billion, I am absolutely certain that the President would have approved that amount. The donations of this nature are handled by the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.”
The Vice President however called for transparency in the management of the funds, saying “The disbursement and utilisation of the funds must be transparently done for posterity.”
He also informed the delegation that the President has directed that proactive measures should be taken by the relevant agencies, in collaboration with the Kano State government, to prevent any reoccurrence of such fire outbreaks in the state.
“Government intends to engage your association to also introduce fire safety measures to prevent the reoccurrence of such incidence to safeguard the lives and properties of our people. The reoccurrence of fire of such magnitude can only be mitigated by taking proactive measures,” he stated.
Acknowledging the challenges facing Kano as one of the nation’s industrial hubs, VP Shettima noted that, while Nigeria’s economy has been recalibrated and is on a sound footing, the nation is on a path to sustained growth.
He said with “the economy back on track, government is poised to address the state’s industrial challenges, citing the the $2.8 billion Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project, designed to deliver natural gas to Northern Nigeria, including a major 1,350 MW Independent Power Plant (IPP) in Kano, which is already at 80% completion stage, and aims to revitalize industries and boost power supply in the state.”
Earlier in his remarks, the President of the Association, Alhaji Sabiu Bako, appealed to government to consider the establishment of a special loan facility that is interest-free for the affected traders with a structured repayment period of up to ten years.
In addition, he urged continued federal assistance in rebuilding critical infrastructure within the market to ensure improved safety standards and prevent future occurrences.
He said; “such gestures will not merely restore businesses alone but will also restore dignity, rebuild confidence, and revive the economic fortunes of the victims as well as the economy of the entire state.”
Expressing the association’s gratitude to President Tinubu, he continued, “We are profoundly grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his decisive intervention and compassion. The President’s action in dispatching a high-powered delegation led by you to commiserate with the government and people of Kano State brought comfort to our grieving community.”