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The Sokoto State chapter of the Labour Party has donated ₦2 million to traders affected by a recent fire that gutted parts of the Old Market, describing the gesture as a show of solidarity with citizens whose livelihoods were abruptly disrupted.
A delegation led by the State Chairman, Abubakar Yawale, and the leader of the party in the state, Chief Ifeanyi Ezeagu, toured the scene of the incident on Friday to assess the extent of the destruction and meet with affected traders.
“We came to stand with our people. We pray that Almighty Allah restores every loss in multiples. But beyond prayers, we urge the government to modernise our firefighting capacity — from equipment to training — so that tragedies like this can be contained effectively,” Yawale told journalists during the visit.
The team was received by the Chairman of the Sokoto Traders Association, Alhaji Abubakar Gishiri, who described the donation as timely and morale-boosting for traders still assessing their losses.
The inferno, which erupted in the early hours of Sunday, destroyed dozens of shops in the century-old Old Market, one of Sokoto’s busiest commercial hubs. Traders said goods worth “hundreds of millions of naira” were lost, including clothing, household items, provisions, and phone accessories.
Fire service officials said investigations into the cause of the blaze were ongoing, but initial reports point to possible electrical faults.
Ifeanyi Ezeagu, who has investments in Sokoto and has facilitated employment for youths through private ventures, prayed for the speedy recovery of the victims, saying hardship should not break the resilience of small business owners.
“Markets are the heart of our communities. When traders suffer, everyone feels it.” he said.
In his response, Sarkin Gishiri praised the gesture and commended Ezeagu for his long-standing support for the state, declaring before traders: “Ifeanyi, you are now an indigene of Sokoto — you’re our brother and we’re very proud of you.”
The Sokoto State Labour Party said the visit was part of its broader effort to “stand with vulnerable communities” during shocks and emergencies.
“We cannot fold our arms when citizens are in pain,” Yawale added.
Market fires have become a recurring challenge in Sokoto and across northwest Nigeria, prompting calls for stronger regulatory enforcement, improved market planning, and better-equipped fire service units.
The Old Market has suffered multiple fire incidents in recent years, raising concerns about electrical safety, storage practices, and rapid response protocols.
For traders like Aliyu Dahiru, whose foodstuffs shop was reduced to ashes, the donation does not repair the damage but signals recognition.
“We just need support to start again. “Many of us built these businesses from scratch.” he said.
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