Rebuilding of burnt Maiduguri market starts this week – Zulum

From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri

Rebuilding of Maiduguri’s main market destroyed following Sunday’s fire outbreak will start this week, Governor Babagana Zulum has announced.

Zulum disclosed this in Maiduguri while receiving a group of prominent Borno citizens living outside the state led by a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Amb Babagana Kingibe.

“We are constituting a committee that will coordinate all matters relating to the Monday market inferno. Most importantly, the committee will look into the possibility of rehabilitating the stalls at the market. Insha Allah, the work will commence on Tuesday,” he announced.

He said though he planned to see the president on the fire outbreak that displaced about 5,000 traders and workforce, the state government decided to start reconstruction to return people to their sources of income.

“While we are waiting for support from the federal government, Borno State Government will not completely fold its arms, we have to start somewhere,” Zulum said.

The leader of the group, Amb Kingibe said the visit was to sympathise with the people and commend the governor for steps taken since the incident occurred on Sunday.

Others Borno citizens on the visit include the Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, Chairman, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Kashim Imam among others. Imam also announced a donation of N100 million to support the victims.

The Maiduguri Monday Market ranks among the biggest markets in the north and the reading hub for countries around the Lake Chad.