From Dauda R Pam
Governor Babagana UMARA ZULUM of Borno State has disbursed N60 million to over 500 victims of the Maiduguri GSM market fire disaster.
The Deputy Governor Usman Kadafur,represented the governor at a brief ceremony to flag-off the disbursement which took place at the Office of the Deputy Governor,where he hinted that,the Committee on compensation of the victims was established by the state governor, and recommended the sum of N50 million as compensation but the governor in his magnanimity increased it and approved N60 million as assistance to the victims.
“The governor has graciously approved the sum of N60 million. We gave the governor proposal of N50 million but the governor increased it to N60 million,” Kadafur announced during the distribution of the money to victims”.
The Deputy Governor described the fire incident as sad and called on the victims to accept it as an act of God and prayed God that such disaster should not happen in the state again.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman Compensation Committee who is also the Commissioner for Local Governments and Emirate Affairs,
Alhaji Sugum Mele said 47 shops were identified to have been burnt by the fire with all the items in them.
“We identified 16 people on the temporary shade, while 503 others in l Glass shop were affected,as identified by the officials of the market that are occupying open space,” he stated
He said the process of verification of the identities of affected persons was concluded after the visit of the governor adding that the occassion was the flagging off through cash payment,as others will be paid into their bank accounts.
It will be recalled that,the fire incident engulfed the Market last Thursday night at about 8:40pm when most traders have closed their shops for the day.
