- Commiserates with victims of Lagos auto spare parts market fire
President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Nigeria on Wednesday after a four-day trip to Doha, Qatar, where he participated in the 5th United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries.
At the UN conference in Doha, Buhari joined the UN Secretary General, António Guterres and other world leaders to mobilize political will, solidarity and actions to transform LCDs by finding sustainable solutions to the challenges of poverty, food insecurity, hunger, weak infrastructure, poor health facilities and climate change among other problems.
The President, as usual, used the opportunity of the trip to foster closer relations with foreign leaders and promote the nation’s engagements at regional and global level.
He also met with Nigerian professionals residing in Qatar.
On arrival in Katsina, at 4.50pm, President Buhari was received at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport by Governor Aminu Bello Masari and his cabinet members, and he proceeded to his hometown, Daura, by chopper.
The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar Faruk and the Emirate Council were at the helipad to welcome the President in Daura.
Buhari was scheduled to remain in Daura until after the Governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.
The President had arrived in Daura on Wednesday before the Independent National Electoral Commission postponed the governorship and state assembly elections scheduled to hold on March 11 by one week.
The elections will now be held on March 18, 2023.
This was made known in a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Festus Okoye on Wednesday.
The decision was reached after a meeting with the INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, and his team.
In another development, President Buhari has expressed deep sadness over the death of a 65-year-old security guard, the loss of personal property and means of livelihood of some hardworking Nigerians at the Akere Spare Parts market in the Apapa Ajegunle area of Lagos State.
The President in a statement by one of his spokesmen, Garba Shehu, expressed his deepest sympathies with the traders and their families, who bear the brunt of this unfortunate incident and are at crossroads of what to do after this temporary setback.
“The President is equally concerned that a similar fire incident occurred at the popular Balogun market a few weeks ago, calling on relevant authorities to take precautions to stem the tide.
“While the full extent and cause of the damage is being assessed, President Buhari commends the Lagos State Fire Service for responding to the incident, salvaging a nearby filling station with a 33,000 litres PMS tanker, amongst other adjoining buildings,” Shehu said.
