FG Donates N250m to Victims Of Sokoto Market Fire Outbreak

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday announced a donation of N250million to victims of the recent fire outbreak in the popular Kara market in Sokoto State.

He made the announcement of the donation when he visited the affected market in Sokoto .

Property estimated at hundreds of millions of naira are said to have been destroyed by fire at the market.

According to reports, the fire started at about midnight on 4th February this year and was said to have been ignited by an electrical spark at a shop opposite the Kofar-Kade gate.

There was, however, no loss of life or injury in the inferno.

Some of the items sold at the market included grains, onions, agricultural inputs, wheat offal, kola nuts, generators and spare parts, among others.

The President had earlier attended a grand reception and rally to receive the former Sotoko State governor Attahiru Bawara who had formerly joined the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

The President who was led to the market by the deputy governor of the state Murktar Shagari along side Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, national chairman of the PDP and other leaders of the party said "what has happened to you, happened to us. This fire incidence have destroyed all what you have. Some of you, these are the only things you have. Some of you even borrowed money to buy those things."

While sympathising with the victims of the fire outbreak who gathered in their numbers to receive the delegation, the President further said that " So as for me, the party chairman, the senate President, our PDP leaders, the Vice President, your own the deputy governor Murktar Shagari, we said we should all come and sympathise with you.

"So, we are telling you that what has happened to you has happened to us. Take it kindly, as we go back to Abuja we will see the little we will send to help you rebuild the place. Allah will continue to bless you".

Officials of the state are expected to liaise with the federal government to effectively utilise the funds in order to assist the traders that have recorded loses from the fire incidence.

Source: Dailytimes