Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River on Tuesday visited the popular Marian Market in Calabar Municipality Local Government Area, following the fire outbreak that razed a section of the market.
Speaking with the affected traders at the scene of the fire incident, Ayade, who was represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Mrs Rosemary Archibong, sympathised with the traders.
He promised that the state government would look into the cause of the fire outbreak to prevent reoccurrence.
“We regret that while the state is fighting to ensure that livelihood of Cross River residents were not destroyed by the pandemic, traders who deal on essential commodities would lose their stocks and revenue in this unfortunate manner,” he said.
Also speaking during the visit, Mr Tony Ogar, Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Nigerian Traders, Cross River Chapter, recounted the losses of some of the traders.
He appealed to the state government to come to the aid of the affected traders, adding that the cause of the inferno was yet to be ascertained.
Over 100 shops were burnt on Friday night in a section of the popular market.
