Dozens of shops and property worth millions of Naira were destroyed in Thursday night fire at the Maiduguri GSM market.
The source of the fire is not ascertained as the market officials are yet to give official details of the incident
The market which is the largest GSM market in Maiduguri metropolis is located at the heart of the busy Post office Area of the city. It is mostly constructed with makeshift shops of wooden materials with very narrow road network.
The fire was said to have consumed 70 per cent of the market according to eyewitnesses.
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum has directed his Chief of Staff along with five commissioners to visit the market and assess the level of damages for immediate intervention from the government.
According to the Special Adviser to the governor on Public Relation and Strategy, Mr. Isa Gusau, the governor gave the directives from Saudi Arabia, โBorno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has from Saudi Arabia, directed his chief of staff, Dr Babagana Wakil to assemble commissioners whose ministries relate commerce, Home Affairs, Poverty Alleviation and Jobs Creation to immediately assess impacts of Thursday nightโs fire incident at the GSM market in Maiduguri and report to him todayโ.
Mr. Gusau also noted that Zulum shares the pains of those whose means of livelihoods and assets were torched.
Gusau added that the report of the assessment will be studied by the government for immediate action.
Alhaji Buni Kyari, the secretary of the GSM marketers at the market told our correspondent that more than one-third of the market has been destroyed by the fire.
According to him, the cause of the fire is still very unclear to them. He explained that the entire market is not connected to Power Holding Company OF Nigeria (PHCN), rather, the market uses two MiKANO generators which are normally used interchangeably between 9.am to 6.30 pm in the evening.
Alhaji Kyari disclosed that though the fire was put off at about 10.00pm on Thursday, many were surprised to discover that the fire has resumed at the market.
