The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has pledged N500 million to assist the Sokoto State Government rebuild the Sokoto Central Market that was gutted by fire on Tuesday.
Special Assistant (Media) to the Rivers State Governor, Kelvin Ebiri disclosed this in a Wednesday statement, noting that part of the money would also be used to support victims of the devastating fire that destroyed goods worth billions of Naira.
He said that Wike made the pledge on behalf of the Rivers State Government during a visit to the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Wednesday.
Wike, who was conducted round the destroyed market by Tambuwal, said he was saddened by the devastating fire that razed over 60 percent of the 16,000 shops there.
“We have come here to commiserate and sympathise with our brother, our friend and the good people of Sokoto State on what has happened to one of the biggest markets in this country, the Sokoto Central Market.
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“When I got the information last night, I was touched and I said as brothers, what affects you affects us. What affects Sokoto State affects Rivers State.”
While empathising with the traders over the loss of their goods worth billions of naira, Wike thanked God that no life was lost in the fire incident.
“There is nothing you can equate with life. That there was no life lost, we give glory to Almighty Allah. Having come here, I’ve seen the level of destruction, it is unfortunate. People have lost their goods, the state government will have to see how this market will be brought back to the way it is supposed to be.
“We sympathise with you. We identify with you and we know the negative effect on the economy of the various families; families who depend for day to day trading and sales of their goods.”
Wike expressed his appreciation to the various security and paramilitary agencies that prevented the fire from destroying the entire market.
He pledged that the government of Rivers State will support Sokoto State to rebuild the market and ameliorate the plight of the traders with N500 million.
“On behalf of the government and the people of Rivers State, we will support the Sokoto State government to see how quickly they can rebuild this market” he added.
Reacting, Tambuwal thanked Wike and the people of Rivers State for the kind gesture.