—- Says the Old Market remains a critical hub of commercial activity and a major source of livelihood for thousands of residents, assuring traders that his administration would not abandon them.

Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has pledged government support for traders affected by a devastating fire outbreak that razed dozens of shops at the Old Market in Sokoto metropolis. The fire, which broke out at about 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, destroyed an estimated 50 shops and goods valued at hundreds of millions of naira, leaving many traders counting their losses.

Governor Aliyu visited the scene shortly after the incident to assess the extent of the damage and commiserate with affected traders. The visit was confirmed in a statement issued by the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Abubakar Bawa. Describing the incident as deeply painful, the governor said the impact of the fire extended beyond the traders to the entire state. “The impact of this inferno goes beyond the affected traders; it also affects the government and the entire people of Sokoto State,” Aliyu said.

“I want to assure the leadership of the traders that this government is determined to support those affected by this incident,” the governor said, urging them to remain hopeful and accept the loss as the will of Almighty Allah.

Governor Aliyu also commended the Sokoto State Fire Service, traders, and volunteers for their swift response, which he said helped prevent the fire from spreading further.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Sokoto State Traders Association, Alhaji Chika Sarkin Gishiri, confirmed the scale of the destruction, noting that while property worth hundreds of millions of naira was lost, no lives were affected.

“The fire started around 10:00 a.m. and affected about 50 shops. Property worth hundreds of millions of naira was destroyed, but no life was lost,” he said.

Sarkin Gishiri appealed to the state government for urgent assistance to help traders rebuild their businesses, expressing confidence in the governor’s commitment to their welfare.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said it promptly deployed its Emergency Response Team to the scene in collaboration with the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency.

In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, NEMA said the coordinated response by emergency agencies, including the Fire Service, helped to contain the blaze and prevent further damage.

“Through joint efforts and effective coordination, the fire was eventually subdued, preventing further spread and damage,” the agency said.

As of the time of filing this report, no casualties had been recorded, while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the fire. Authorities said further assessments would be carried out to determine the level of assistance required to help affected traders recover.