By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, on Saturday visited the Pigba Pantaker District Market in Apo, Abuja, to meet with the 324 traders—mostly northerners—whose homes, shops, and goods were destroyed in a devastating fire three days earlier.

The night-time blaze swept through the market, razing makeshift structures, tools, and wares, leaving many artisans and metalworkers without a means of livelihood.

Visibly moved by the scale of the destruction, Matawalle walked through the burnt sections of the market to assess the damage firsthand. He spoke with victims, who recounted how the fire consumed all their belongings within minutes.

In his personal capacity, the minister donated ₦20 million to provide immediate relief to affected families. He also assured traders that he would brief President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the incident and seek additional federal support for the rebuilding process.

The visit brought emotional relief to many victims, who said Matawalle’s gesture reassured them that they were not abandoned in their moment of hardship. The minister arrived at the market a few minutes after 6 p.m. to a warm welcome, as traders cheered and applauded him while he toured the wreckage.

Community leaders and market associations commended the minister for the donation and appealed to government authorities to assist in reconstructing the market and improving safety measures to prevent future tragedies.

“I urge you all to pray for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to succeed. I can assure you, Nigeria will be great under Tinubu,” Matawalle told the crowd.