The Kano State Government has inaugurated a technical committee to investigate the recent fire outbreak at the GSM Market, Farm Centre, Kano, and manage its aftermath.
People’s Pen24 reports that this was disclosed in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, who represented the State Governor at the inauguration, emphasized the need for a transparent and well-coordinated donation process.
He cautioned against politicizing the support efforts and urged all donations and assistance to be channelled through the Committee or the designated account with Zenith Bank (Account Name: FARM CENTRE GSM MARKET FIRE INCIDENCE SUPPORT FUNDS ACCOUNT; Account Number: 1310076187).
The committee is chaired by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaji Nasiru Sule Garo, and includes representatives from relevant Ministries, Departments, Agencies, security agencies, traders’ associations, and the private sector.
Other members include the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Special Services; representatives from the Kano State Fire Service; Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs; Director of Treasury; State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA); Nigeria Police Force; KNUPDA; Farm Centre GSM Traders’ Association; Department of State Services (DSS); Kano State Investment and Properties; KACCIMA; as well as local government officials, special advisers, and senior stakeholders. Abdulkadir Shehu AGS-HOC will serve as the Committee Secretary.
The Committee’s terms of reference include investigating the causes of the fire, assessing damages and any loss of life, evaluating the emergency response, examining current fire safety measures, and proposing preventive strategies to avoid future incidents.
It will also gather testimonies from victims and witnesses, compile a verified list of affected individuals, review the market layout to align with urban safety standards, and propose an administrative framework for better market management.
The committee will manage all donations and submit a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations within one week.
The Kano State Government reiterated its commitment to supporting the victims and rebuilding the market in a safer and more organized manner, calling on all stakeholders to cooperate fully with the Committee.