From David Christopher,Lafia
Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule has doled out N60 million financial assistance to traders affected by the December 5 fire incident at Lafia Modern Market.
He announced the largesse during a meeting with the committee set up to investigate the extent of the damage caused by the fire, held at the Government House on Thursday.
While excusing the delay in reaching out to the victims of the inferno, the governor said the money, comprising N55 million for those directly affected by the fire and N5 million for Nasarawa State Traders and Marketers Association, NSTMA, is meant to serve as capital to enable those who lost their shops to continue their businesses.
According to him the intervention became necessary considering the damage caused by the fire admist the prevailing economic hardship being experienced across the country.
Governor Sule particularly called on officials of NSTMA not to take out of the money meant for the victims.
He emphasized that his administration is taking measures to ensure that fire incidents are reduced drastically across major markets.
Governor Sule appreciated spirited individuals who identified with the victims through the donation of money amounting to N18 million, which he said is being utilised by tNSTMA to rebuild the shops destroyed during the inferno.
“I was also informed that some spirited individuals from Nasarawa State came forward to make donations. I was informed that all the donations promised were redeemed. I was informed that they are using the resources to rebuild some of the shops that were damaged. Let me use the opportunity to thank the various individuals who made the donations,” he said.
In an opening remarks, the Commissioner Commissioner for Trade, Industry and Investment, Abubakar Imam Zanwa, commended Governor Sule for the promptness and responsiveness.
Zanwa disclosed that the investigative committee set up by the state government discovered that in all, 29 shops were affected by the fire with 24 completely razed down.
“That assignment has been carried out and we have been able to determine that 29 shops got burnt, amongst which 24 were completely destroyed by the fire, while five were partially affected,” he said.
In a vote of thanks, President, Nasarawa State Traders and Marketers Association, Alhaji Musa Aliyu-Turaki, appreciated Governor Sule for coming to the rescue of members of his association that were affected by the recent fire incident.
Aliyu-Turaki assured the governor that officials of NSTMA will carry along, all those affected by the fire towards making sure that every one gets what is due to them.
He disclosed that other spirited individuals also donated various sums of money as relief to members of NSTMA, amounting to N18 million.
The chairman added that they have collectively resolved to channel the said amount towards rebuilding the shops damaged by the inferno.
