Kantin Kwari fire victims still await FG assistance

Pyramid Trust learnt that individuals were barred from renovating their shops. The ban was made to forestall another disaster as the razed structure were so shattered that raising a structure on its foundation might prove hazardous. Though renovations of some shops have been approved, there are still many shops awaiting such approvals from the Kano […]

Pyramid Trust learnt that individuals were barred from renovating their shops. The ban was made to forestall another disaster as the razed structure were so shattered that raising a structure on its foundation might prove hazardous. Though renovations of some shops have been approved, there are still many shops awaiting such approvals from the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KNUPDA). The findings further revealed that the disbursement of the funds so far donated by individuals and state governments is being delayed because up till this moment, the federal government has not made its own donation which, according to them was paramount. Over 300 million naira has so far been received by the committee as donation from individuals, organisations and governments for the fire victims.

Speaking on the situation at the market, the newly elected chairman, caretaker committee, Alhaji Umar Garba Babatumuli, said the major setback stabilising the market was lack of federal government donation. He said the committee set up by the Kano State government to oversee the rehabilitation of the market was just waiting for that donation.

“The major impediment is lack of donation from the federal government. We don’t know why up till now, the federal government has not given its donation and this is the normal trend. Whenever a disaster happens, it is binding on the government to assist the victims. It is only when that donation is made that the committee will disburse it to the affected people accordingly.”

Babatumuli said because of the inferno, business activities in the market is declining by the day, “The affected people are just sitting idle waiting for what donation they could get to start again. They cannot buy goods again because the money is not there and the shops are also not forthcoming. The loss was enormous. There is a single man who lost over N120 million to the fire, and there are lots more who lost several millions.”

He said it was unfortunate that the market, which is the biggest textile market in Africa, was allowed to crumble because of the delay in getting the federal government assistance. He said the market was declining because people who lost everything to the fire could not make purchases again and because of that, some materials have become scarce in the market.

He further explained that the situation might be more aggravated as companies who gave out goods on credit to these fire victims might not cede their money in sympathy for the victims. He said the companies’ patience might come to an end. That is the more reason why, according to him, the federal government should give its donation to enable the victims maintain the cordial relationship between them and the companies that are giving them goods.

The chairman said he was optimistic that if the federal government can give its own share of the assistance, and the money is disbursed to the affected victims, the market would bounce back to its former vibrancy.

Pyramid Trust learnt that prices of goods at the market have gone up due to its scarcity. Merchants coming from other parts of the country and even beyond, sometimes go back without getting what they wanted to buy at the market. The scarcity according to the chairman, was unfortunate.

On the allegation by some marketers that some unaffected people are trying to have their names included so that they can get assistance, the chairman said it was mere allegation as, according to him, the committee has the records of all those affected,  saying they have full confidence of the members of the committee that they would disburse the fund religiously.

Speaking on the mandate of his office and that of the other members elected to steer the market association, Babatumuli said conducting election in the market is their main mandate, “We have been mandated to prepare and conduct elections in the market before the end of three months from the day we were elected as a caretaker committee.”

He added that his prayers was that before the end of his tenure, he would foster unity in the market. He said his door is open for all and sundry. He charged all the aggrieved factions in the market to eschew bitterness and come together for the progress of the market.

The chairman stressed that the market should be paramount before any other thing, “This market is everything to us. It is even better than our houses, so we should unite to move the market forward.”