OGUN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) –In the aftermath of the Abuja, Karu market, President Bola Tinubu has promised support for the affected traders and individuals, according to a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Friday.
A devastating fire swept through the Old Karu market in Abuja on Thursday, destroying millions of naira worth of goods.
Firefighters from the Federal Capital Territory Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, and Julius Berger Fire Service battled the blaze, bringing it under control.
The statement read in part, “President Bola Tinubu receives the news of the fire incident, which affected sections of Karu Market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with deep sadness,”
It added, “Tinubu extends his heartfelt sympathies to all the traders affected by this distressing incident and assures them of his administration’s full support. The President urges caution and adherence to essential safety measures to prevent fire outbreaks and other accidents.”
READ ALSO: Traders Devastated As Fire Razes Abuja Market
Additionally, the FCT Emergency Management Department, through its acting Director-General, Mrs. Florence Wenegieme, lamented the lack of access to the market, which is located behind the new market under construction.
The Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, the FEMD boss said, “It was the illegal market or settlement behind the new market under construction that was engulfed by fire. We had enough firetrucks and firemen, but we could not gain access to the market, so we had to break walls to have access to the firefighting hose; that was what caused the delay in putting out the fire,” adding that “no life was lost to the fire incident; goods worth millions of naira were destroyed.”
Voiceofnaija.ng reported that a female trader stated her worry over the loss to the inferno, which, according to her, ran into millions of naira.
The trader, who was flanked by other women in the video, cried out, saying, “Everything has burnt down. I could not recover anything. This is where we feed from o. Ah, my children’s school fees are there.
“I cannot hold myself, I am in pain, I don’t know if the government can help us. My money that has gone here is over N10 million. I am tired and I don’t know where to start”