Governor Ahmed Sokoto of Sokoto State has issued an urgent directive to relocate a dumping site from the Central Market area following a devastating fire incident on Monday. The fire ravaged numerous shops, motorcycles, and properties, resulting in significant financial losses amounting to billions of naira.
The governor issued the directive during his visit to the market on Monday to assess the situation firsthand.
In a message shared on his social media platform, he urged for the prompt removal of debris from the surroundings within three weeks starting from yesterday.
He wrote, “I was at the Sokoto State Central Market earlier, where a fire broke out on Monday morning, destroying over 180 stalls.
“To my surprise, there was some reluctance in guiding me to the garbage area. However, upon hearing people mention it, I took the initiative to investigate the situation myself. It is disheartening that a section of the market has been transformed into a dumping site.
“Despite attempts by the Commissioner for Lands and Housing to defend the market leaders, this issue concerns all of us. I wish to emphasise that the presence of garbage did not occur spontaneously; the business community also bears responsibility.
“I have issued a directive that the garbage must be cleared within three weeks, or else that specific market area will be closed.
“The accumulation of such waste can pose risks to the community and may even be linked to the fire outbreak. We are resolute in our stance against any actions that jeopardise the safety of our people.
“Maintaining cleanliness in our surroundings is undeniably a fundamental aspect of our beliefs.”