7 months after market fire, Katsina traders worry over reconstruction

Life is gradually returning to Kaduna Central Market, seven months after a fire incident engulfed some sections of the market and grounded economic activities. Our correspondent, who visited the market, observed that almost all the traders affected by the incident have returned to the market with many of them selling their wares in make-shift structures. […]

Life is gradually returning to Kaduna Central Market, seven months after a fire incident engulfed some sections of the market and grounded economic activities.

Our correspondent, who visited the market, observed that almost all the traders affected by the incident have returned to the market with many of them selling their wares in make-shift structures.

The traders, however, expressed concern over the decision of the state government to reconstruct and redistribute the affected area, saying if such is done, many of those who have committed resources in acquiring the shops will lose out.

Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed, one of the affected traders, told Arewa Trust Weekly that traders have received financial assistance from the government and commended the present administration in ensuring they get the necessary assistance.

“We cannot say they have given us back what we lost, but we must say that they have done greatly and deserve commendation.

“Our major concern now is the issue of reconstructing the shops. Some of us have spent a lot of money to acquire four or more shops and if government decides to reconstruct it, we may not get what we lost. But if we are allowed to repair our shops, we all know the location and measurements of our shops and we can easily recover our places,” he said.

Another trader who didn’t want his name in print said the government was forcing the reconstruction on the traders even when the traders have requested to do it themselves. “I was one of those who went to see the governor on this, but they refused to accept our reasons,” he said.

When our reporter went round the affected areas, the concerns raised were almost the same with only a few complaining that other traders have been given the go ahead to reconstruct their shops while others have been denied the same opportunity.

Alhaji Abbas Labaran Albaba, the chairman of the Market Traders Association said the sum of N177.11 million has so far been redeemed from the pledges made by several influential people, adding that two more pledges were yet to be redeemed.

“Out of this amount, we have shared financial support to about 68 per cent of those who are affected by the incident. As for the remaining 32 per cent, the governor has promised to release the sum of N135m to settle them,” he said.

He said about 685 bona fide beneficiaries were authenticated in the exercise, out of which the 68 per cent was settled. 

Albaba added that about N70m was realised from the state government from the salary deductions of civil servants in the state.

On the issue of reconstruction of the damaged section of the market, the chairman said there were a lot of suggestions and arguments, but the committee had eventually decided that those whose shops were standard prior to the inferno and therefore not seriously damaged should be allowed to repair them.

“About 84 shops are in this category and since they need no new design, the committee decided that they should be allowed to repair them, and some of them have done that already,” he said.

He, however, said the government has decided to reconstruct the temporary structures to ensure a more modern structure that will accommodate many traders. 

He added that a committee for the reconstruction of the market was established and a technical committee, under the main committee has done a survey, stressing that the work will commence in two weeks’ time.

The chairman called on the affected traders to exercise patience and cooperate with the committee to ensure the smooth execution of the exercise.

Attempts to reach the chairman of the committee for his comment proved abortive but a member of the technical committee, who didn’t want to be named because he said he had no authority to speak, said work will soon commence on the reconstruction.

“The market belongs to government so also the people and the government will not do anything to harm the people. Everyone has seen the giant strides of this government in trying to get the affected traders back on their feet, as they testified themselves,” he said.