In response to the recent fire outbreak at the GSM Market located in Farm Centre, the Kano State Government has established a fact-finding committee to determine the cause of the incident and offer recommendations for future prevention.
The committee was inaugurated on Tuesday by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim, who stood in on behalf of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Ibrahim explained that the panel’s responsibilities include uncovering both the direct and underlying reasons behind the fire, evaluating the damage caused, and providing practical solutions to avert similar disasters.
During the inauguration, he stressed the importance of transparency and cautioned against politicising the tragedy.
“To ensure fairness and proper coordination, all financial or material assistance must be routed through the committee or the official government account,” he said.
He also called on private individuals, corporate donors, and the general public willing to assist affected traders to do so via the designated account.
The committee is chaired by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaji Nasiru Garo, and includes representatives from critical sectors, including emergency agencies, security organisations, and market associations.
According to Ibrahim, members were carefully selected to ensure they possess the expertise and representation necessary for a thorough and credible investigation.
The committee’s members include the Commissioner for Internal Security and Special Services, representatives from the Kano State Fire Service, the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the police, DSS, the Kano Urban Planning and Development Authority, and leaders of the GSM Market traders’ union, among others.
Alhaji Abdulkadir Shehu AGS-HOC will serve as secretary of the committee.
Their assignment includes investigating the origin of the fire, assessing the level of destruction—including potential loss of life—and reviewing the efficiency of the emergency response.
They will also verify the identities of those impacted, inspect the market’s compliance with safety regulations, and recommend a sustainable structure for market administration going forward.
The committee has been given one week to present its findings and recommendations to guide the government’s actions on relief, recovery, and long-term safety improvements.
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