Sen. Uba Sani, the governor of Kaduna State, said on Tuesday that the eight families of those who died when the 150-year-old Zaria Central Mosque collapsed during Friday prayers in the state will get N1 million apiece.
It was reported that on Friday at about 4 p.m., a portion of the 150-year-old mosque fell while people were offering prayers.
On Tuesday, the governor and several senior government officials paid a condolence visit to Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, the Emir of Zazzau, at his palace in Zaria.
Sani said that the state government will work with the Emirate Council to hasten the reconstruction of the mosque so that worshipers may carry out their religious ceremonies.
When the governor announced the N1 million donation to the families of the eight victims who died in the incident, he also offered gifts of N500,000 to all those who suffered injuries and were still receiving medical care in the hospital, while N200,000 would be given to those who had already been discharged and were at home.
“I was away on official duties when this unfortunate incident occurred. I spoke with His Highness and sent a delegation to express our condolences and for assessment.
“Today, I conveyed our condolences on behalf of the Kaduna State Government regarding the unfortunate incident that occurred at this iconic mosque,” the governor said.
On behalf of the whole Muslim Ummah (community), the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who was also paying a condolence visit, expressed sympathy to the residents of Kaduna state for the unfortunate tragedy.
The Sultan, who is also the religious head of Muslims in Nigeria, praised Governor Sani for his compassion and work in repairing the demolished mosque.
In response, the king thanked the governor and his cabinet for their kindness and said that the tragedy had affected 25 individuals, of whom 8 had died and 3 were still in the hospital being treated.
The Chief Medical Director of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital had given him a brief, and according to that, the three victims had extensive injuries and would need surgery.
He mentioned that the mosque is one of the state’s historical landmarks and recalled that it was built in 1835.
Bamalli applauded the efforts made in order to rebuild the mosque by the state ministry of works, the Ahmadu Bello University faculty of architecture, the Nigerian Society of Architects, and others.