The administrative committee set up to investigate the remote causes of Katsina Central Market fire has presented its report to Governor Aminu Bello Masari identifying the causes of the fire outbreak .
The Chairman of the committee and State commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Alh. Tasiu Dandagoro while presenting the report to the Governor on Wednesday identified fraudulent practices by the traders as part of the cause.
The committeee also identified poor electrical connections, and outright distortion of the market master plan as possible reasons responsible for the fire incident which engulfed the market on Monday, March 22nd.
According to the committee the inferno affected 685 traders, including 605 shops and 59 others on attachment.
The committee also identified 21 traders whose shops were looted.
It has further noted that evidences which the committee suspected could be the real causes of the inferno, have been erased.
The total lost incurred in the inferno was put at 921,138,500 naira which according to the committee, does not include the cost of structures that were destroyed because they did not have designs and bills of quantity.
The Chairman of the committee purpose that, blocks of single story shops containing 460 shops, blocks of two story shops containing 780 shops for the adversely affected traders at the market to be built.
He said the committee also purposes building operate and transfer, BOT, private property partnership, PPP and direct sponsorship by government.
Reacting to the report, Governor Aminu Bello Masari said, a white paper committee would be set up by the Secretary to the Katsina State Government and make submission to the Executive Council on or before sallah.
Masari further assured that Civil Servants and political office holders in the State would be rallied to bear the cost of rebuilding affected Katsina traders.
He said “Every one will make contribution to the restoration of the market. The Civil Servants and political office holders consume so many resources of the State than the traders”.
