Sokoto Market Inferno: It Hinders Development, Says Wike

• A shocking and disturbing incident – Wike

• Donate N500 million to support the rebuilding of the  market.

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers State, says the destruction engendered by the inferno that engulfed Sokoto state central market impedes growth and development.

Wike said this when he paid a visit to the market on Wednesday to access the level of damage and sympathise with the state governor, Aminu Tambuwal.

Ekohotblog had reported how a section of the market was razed to the ground on Tuesday.

Muhammed Bello, spokesman to Tambuwal in a statement disclosed that Wike has donated a sum of ₦500 million to the state to support the rebuilding of the market.

According to Bello, Wike said the donation is to support the state’s rebuilding efforts, as well as to assist affected traders.

“River state government has pledged the sum of half a billion naira to support Sokoto State government in rebuilding the Sokoto central market ravaged by fire on Tuesday morning,” the statement reads.

“Part of the money, according to Gov. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who made the pledge, is also intended to support the victims of the inferno.

“Gov. Wike, who visited Sokoto earlier on Wednesday, barely 24 hours after the disaster, said he was shocked and disturbed when he learnt about it.

Wike said that whatever happened to Sokoto State also affects Rivers, adding that his government will do everything humanly possible to ensure that the affected market is rebuilt and becomes functional.

He noted that any development where the source of income the people of Sokoto state, the effort of the government to improve the people’s lives and “a broad spectrum of socio-economic wellbeing of many people will be affected, does not augur well for development and progress.”

Earlier, during a tour of the scene of the incident, Tambuwal told Wike that 16,000 shops were affected.

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