By Uzair Adam
The Kano State Government has inaugurated a technical committee to probe the recent fire incident at the GSM Market, Farm Centre, and oversee reconstruction efforts.
A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, on Tuesday, said the committee was inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, who represented the State Governor.
Ibrahim stressed the importance of transparency in donations and cautioned against politicizing the relief efforts.
He directed that all donations be made through the Committee or the designated Zenith Bank account (Account Name: FARM CENTRE GSM MARKET FIRE INCIDENCE SUPPORT FUNDS ACCOUNT; Account Number: 1310076187).
The committee, chaired by Alhaji Nasiru Sule Garo, Commissioner for Special Duties, comprises representatives from key ministries, security agencies, traders’ associations, and the private sector.
Other members include the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Special Services; officials from the Kano State Fire Service; Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs; Director of Treasury; State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA); Nigeria Police Force; KNUPDA; Farm Centre GSM Traders’ Association; Department of State Services (DSS); Kano State Investment and Properties; KACCIMA; as well as local government officials, special advisers, and senior stakeholders.
Abdulkadir Shehu AGS-HOC serves as the Committee Secretary.The committee’s mandate covers investigating the fire’s cause, assessing damages and any loss of life, reviewing emergency response and current safety measures, and proposing preventive strategies to avoid similar incidents in the future.
It will also gather testimonies from victims and witnesses, compile a verified list of those affected, review the market layout in line with urban safety standards, and propose a framework for improved market management.
The committee will manage all donations and is expected to submit a detailed report within a week.
The Kano State Government reaffirmed its commitment to assisting victims and rebuilding the market in a safer and more organized way, urging all stakeholders to support the committee’s work.