Kano state fund raising for the victims of markets fi re disasters, generated about N2billion at the weekend with highest donations of N500million each from the state government and the Chief launcher, Alhaji Aliko Dangote. Th e appeal fund was conceived by the state government with a view to assisting victims of Farm Centre (GSM), Kurmi, Yan Katako, Singer and Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi markets fi re disasters, where property worth millions of naira perished in the infernos.
Other donors at the launching included Access Bank N100million, Abdulsamad Isyaka Rabi’I, N50million; Jaiz Bank N10million, Zenith Bank N20million, Skipa Company N10million, Alhaji Dahiru Bara’u Mangal, N25million and Katsina and Bauchi state governments N10million each. Also, the 44 local government administrations of the state donated N33.9million, Brains and Hamers construction company N20million, Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki N10million, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara N5million and the 24 members of the House of Representatives from Kano N12million.
Th e Emir of Kano donated N1million, Kano Emirate Council N2.5million and all district head N1.5million, Kano state House of Assembly N5million, Nigerian Shippers Council N5m, Al-Amsad N5m, family of late Alhaji Sule Garo N5m, Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya N3m, Senator Barau I Jibril N3 and Senator Alhassan Ado Doguwa N3million. Th e Kano state executive council members N5m, A A Rano N5m, Indigenous contractors N5m, Unity Bank N5m, Accountant General of the federation N2m, Alhaji Tahir Fadallah N5m, Ciroma Kano, Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero N5m and Starling Bank N5m among others. Speaking at the occasion, Kano state Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said the donation was not made to compensate victims of the fi re disasters, rather it was a gesture to support them fi nancially, looking at the gravity of the disaster that had taken a scathing toll on their businesses. He said the N500m donated by the state government would be accessed latest by next week, appealing to other wellmeaning Nigerians to also donate to the victims of the fi re disasters. He however stated that government had constructed roads, culverts and fi re service offi ces in some of the aff ected markets. Earlier, the chairman of the appeal fund raising, Alhaji Aliko Dangote apologised to the victims of the disaster for launching the appeal fund against the earlier expectation of the victims, affi rming that the delay was not deliberate. He said: “It is our duty to support the victims of various markets fi re disasters in Kano because the state is a major trading center in Nigeria. Kano is our number one in terms of sales followed by Lagos state.” He stressed that his committee would continue to collect donations for the victims for the next four months, saying “if not because of recession, I would have donated more money to the aff ected traders. My donation is ready for collection.
