Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday in Kano, suggested the installation of modern fire equipment within the markets in the country so as to combat fire outbreaks.Chief Obasanjo, gave the advice in Kano, while condoling with the state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and trader, who lost property worth trillions of Naira, following the fire outbreak, which extensively razed Sabon Gari market in Kano metropolis.
The former president also advocated better construction and management of markets, caution while handling electricity as well as avoiding improvised wooden structures, capable of fueling fire outbreaks.
“We should be able to have regulation that stipulates that once you are no longer in the market at night, only street lights should be on. Lights within one’s shop or stall should be switched off.
He also stressed the need for market, store and shop owners to insure their property to mitigate the impact of unanticipated events like fire incidents.
Responding, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, while describing the incident as unfortunate, promised to provide a framework for modern market management in Kano, so as to curtail such as fire incidents.
Dr. Ganduje, who regretted the efforts made by the state fire service to bring the fire under control in time, attributed the delay to lack of airborne firefighting equipment.
The governor appealed to the Federal and State governments, as well as other organizations to assist victims of the fire outbreak, so as to alleviate their pain and sufferings, announcing that plans are being fine tuned to set up an appeal fund to support victims of the recent market fire outbreaks in the state.
Meanwhile, Governor Ganduje received members of the state House of Assembly led by the Deputy Speaker, Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari who sympathized with the governor over the Sabon Gari market inferno and reassured of determination to make laws aimed at rejuvenating commercial activities in the state.
In a related development, the governor met with market leaders from Kasuwar Kurmi, Dubai, Na’ibawa ‘Yankatako and ‘Yanlemo markets, on ways to improve the conditions of markets and arrest fire incidents therein.
Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye, mni, fnge
Director – General, Media and Communications,
To the Executive Governor, Kano state,
