Usman Darma, the former Deputy President of the Kano State Chamber of Commerce, Mines, and Agriculture, KACCIMA, said losses incurred in Kano State within the five days of the ongoing hunger protest were over N100 billion.
The Kano State Government had declared a 24-hour curfew on Thursday following the nationwide hunger protest, which degenerated into violence and eventual looting of properties in the state.
The state commissioner for information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, said the curfew was later relaxed on Saturday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily to enable residents to go about their businesses until the security operatives review the situation and give further direction.
Despite the curfew relaxation, Grassroots Parrot reported how the residents on Monday remain indoors and businesses shut down for fear of being hijacked by hoodlums, following the deadly nationwide hunger protest in the state.
READ ALSO: Kano Residents Remain Indoors Over Perceived Threat Despite Relaxed Curfew
Speaking with newsmen over the development on Monday, Darma said 70 percent of people in the state are into commerce and business, while 25 percent of neighboring African countries trade with Kano.
“With the current situation, businesses have been shut down. Kano State is the worst hit. So, aside from looting and vandalism of properties, the state incurred losses of over N100 billion within the five days.’’
Similarly, the President of Nigeria’s largest grain market, Dawanau, Muntaka Isa, put the losses incurred by the market from the commencement of the protest till date at over N2 billion.
Singa Market Reopens
In the meantime, the management of Singa Market in the Sabongari area of Kano announced on Tuesday the reopening of the market for the usual buying and selling activities from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily until further notice.
Grassroots Parrot reports that the market has been shut down since last Thursday for fear of being hijacked by hoodlums, following the nationwide hunger protest, which turned violent in Kano State.
This development is making some essential commodities scarce in the pyramid city, as most retail shops are practically out of stock amid the ongoing curfew declared by the state government after the incident.
Read also: Protest: BUK Makes U-Turn, Suspends Academic Activities Indefinitely
However, the Chairman of the Singa Market Development Association (SIMDA), Barrister Junaidu Muhammad Zakari, announced that the Singa market will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
Zakari, in a statement made available to Grassroots Parrot on Tuesday morning, urged traders in the market to cooperate with the security agencies within the period.
According to the chairman, the decision to reopen the market for business was taken after due consultations with stakeholders due to a lack of daily necessities at the retail shops.
READ ALSO: Protests: Dawanau Grains Market Recruits 800 Personnel to Bolster Security
He noted that only small vehicles will be allowed to enter the market to pick up goods, while trucks and other big vehicles will be prevented from gaining entry.
Zakari thanked the governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, and the security agencies for the measures taken to protect the lives and properties of the state residents.