By Musa Ubandawaki (Sokoto State Correspondent)
The Federal Government has expressed its determination to support the reconstruction of the burnt Sokoto Central Market.
The leader of the Federal Government delegation and Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, disclosed this while delivering the message of President Buhari to the Government and people of Sokoto State over the unfortunate fire disaster that destroyed over 60 percent of the State's Central Market.
He said President Muhammad Buhari was deeply torched and expressed his sadness over the unfortunate disaster that crippled the economy of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, and Niger republic traders who daily patronized the Market.
Gambari stated that the Federal Government would not only support victims of the fire incidence but would also support the Sokoto State Government in the reconstruction of the burnt Market.
In his response, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal expressed delight with the concern shown by President Buhari on the plight of the people of the state. He said what impressed him much was that the president has issued a statement condoling the state and victims of the incident and now he sent another high powered delegation led by his Chief of Staff to condole with the victims. The governor thanked the Presidential delegation for the visit and prayed Allah for them to return back to Abuja safely.
While at the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto, the leader of the presidential delegation, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, told the Sultan that they were in Sokoto to deliver the president's condolence message to the people of Sokoto state over the recent fire disaster that destroyed over 60 percent of central Market. He said the Federal Government would stand by the State Government in its bid to reconstruct the burnt Central Market. Gambari explained that Sokoto people are peace-loving and industrious, and as such, they need to be supported from every angle.
In his response, the Sultan of Sokoto, Dr. Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, however, thanked President Buhari for his concern for the happenings in the State. He said the burnt Central Market is the source of livelihood of many people in Sokoto state and other neighboring states, as such, rebuilding the market is paramount to the socio-economic development of the state and her people. The Sultan, therefore, called on the federal government to support the state government in its effort to rebuilt the Central Market within a short period.
The members of the federal government delegation included: The Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Digital Economy, Alhaji Isah Ali Pantanmi, Minister of Disaster and Humanitarian Affairs, Hajiya Sadiyya Umar Farouk, and Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, the former Governor of Sokoto state.
The delegation was later conducted round the burnt Central Market by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and some members of the State Executive Council. NNL.
