Traders at Singer Market in Kano who were affected by the fire incident that occurred several months ago have appealed to the Kano State Government and the Federal Government to urgently review their situation and fulfil the promises of assistance made to them to cushion the effects of the disaster.
The traders said the fire destroyed a large number of goods and businesses, leaving many of them in serious financial difficulties. They explained that despite the assurances given by both levels of government to provide support to help them recover from the losses, they are yet to receive any of the promised assistance.
The leader of the affected traders’ group, Alhaji Kabiru Ado Garo, made the appeal while speaking to journalists, saying the purpose of the briefing was to remind the authorities of the difficult situation facing the victims and the urgent need for intervention.
He said the fire caused significant losses, with some traders losing goods and properties worth millions of naira, as well as their sources of livelihood.
Alhaji Kabiru Ado Garo explained that one of the major challenges currently facing the affected traders is the lack of capital to restart their businesses. He said some traders have been unable to return to the market because they do not have enough money to replace the goods they lost in the fire.
He further appealed to the Kano State Government and the Federal Government to look into the matter and ensure that the assistance promised to the affected traders is provided without further delay.
He also called on relevant authorities to consider introducing a special recovery programme that would enable the affected traders to rebuild their businesses and return to normal commercial activities.
Some of the traders who spoke about their experiences said their businesses were operating normally before the fire incident, but everything changed after the disaster, as they lost goods, capital and other valuable properties.
They appealed to the government, humanitarian organisations and well-meaning individuals to come to their aid, particularly by providing financial assistance and other forms of support that could enable them to rebuild their businesses.
The traders said the fulfilment of the promised assistance would go a long way in reducing the hardship they are currently facing and enable them to return to the market and continue with their livelihoods.
