The Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto ordered the immediate evacuation of a refuse dump located within the Central Market premises where a devastating inferno ravaged goods and property on Monday.
During his visit to the razed market on Tuesday, Governor Sokoto expressed concern over the safety hazards posed by the dump site. He ordered that the site be moved to a safer location within three weeks to avert any future dangers.
News Central reported that the Sokoto State Central Market went up in flames in the early hours of Monday. The source of the fire has not been confirmed.
Governor Sokoto reiterated the paramount importance of public safety, stating that the persistence of such waste accumulation posed significant risks to the community and may have contributed to the fire outbreak.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of its citizens, adding that maintaining cleanliness in public spaces was not only a civic duty but also a core value embedded within the state’s principles.
His words:
“I was at the Sokoto State Central Market earlier, where a fire incident broke out on Monday morning, resulting in the destruction of over one hundred and eighty stalls.
“To my surprise, there was some reluctance in guiding me to the garbage area. However, upon hearing people mention it, I took the initiative to investigate the situation myself. It is indeed disheartening that a section of the market has been transformed into a dumping site.
“Despite attempts by the commissioner for lands and housing to defend the market leaders, this issue concerns all of us, I wish to emphasise that the presence of the garbage did not occur spontaneously, the business community also bears responsibility.
“I have issued a directive that the garbage must be cleared within three weeks, or else that specific area of the market will face closure.
“The e accumulation of such waste can pose risks to the community and may even be linked to the fire outbreak. We are resolute in our stance against any actions that jeopardize the safety of our people. Maintaining cleanliness in our surroundings is undeniably a fundamental aspect of our beliefs” he said.
There has been a concerning trend of fire incidents across Nigeria, with the first quarter of 2024 witnessing multiple outbreaks in various regions, including Oyo, Kano, Sokoto, and Lagos.
At the time of filing this report, the Dosunmu market in Lagos was in flames, and the inferno was still being contained by the fire service.
