By Sadiq Abubakar (MAIDUGURI) –
The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum has approve the constitution of a twenty four member High Powered Investigation Committee on the Maiduguri Monday Market Fire Disaster and Emergency Relief Assistance to the victims.
A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alh. Usman Jidda Shuwa said the constitution of the Committee is in furtherance to a state wide broadcast by the state governor on the fire incident that engulf the market in the early hours of Sunday 26th February, 2023.
The statement added that the High Powered Investigation Committee has 9 point terms of reference that includes, to appraise and determine the immediate and remote causes of the fire disaster, to assess and ascertain whether or not there are specific individuals who may be directly or indirectly responsible for the incidence.
According to the statement, the Committee is to further thoroughly examine the magnitude of the fire incident and the extent of damage on the structures, and assess the type of relief assistance to the victims of the inferno, to accurately determine the actual number of persons who suffered the losses to the inferno and establish the amount of property each of the individuals lost to the fire disaster.
It further tasked members of the committee to examine the original master plan of the market, determine whether or not alteration have been made over the years to accommodate more traders and the extent to which such alteration contributed to the nature of the fire incident
.Equally the committee is to determine the extent to which the fire disaster disrupted commercial activities of the market and suggest a suitable site for the construction of another market to decongest the present Monday Market.
The Committee is to further make appropriate recommendations to Government on how best to avoid re-occurrence of such fire disaster in further,
The committee is further mandated to evaluate and commence reconstruction and rehabilitation of the damaged structures while investigations is been undertaken, in addition to that, they are to take any measure deems relevant that will improve their assignment in tandem with the terms of reference.
The 24 member committee has Engineer Zarami Dungus as Chairman,
The Secretary Monday Market will serve as the Secretary of the Committee, with Prof. Mohammed A. Alhaji, Khalifa Ahmed Banki, Alhaji Umaru Maina Chara as members. Also to serve in the Committee are the Representative of 8 Joint Forum Monday Market, the Representative of the Monday Market Traders’s,
Otjers include, one Representative each from the 60 Pillars Monday Market.Also on the Committee is the Special Adviser on Religious Affairs, the Special Adviser on Legal and Administration Matters, Representative of the North East Development Commission and that of National Emergency Management Agency.
Similarly the Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Nigerian Army Force, the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Fire Service, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps.
Also to serve on the committee includes Representatives of Ministries of Poverty Alleviation, Commerce Trade and Investment, Works, Justice, Office of the SSG and the Representative of the Shehu of Borno.