The African Democratic Congress Chairmanship candidate for the forthcoming election in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Dr Moses Paul has visited the popular Kugbo Market.
The visit to Kugbo Market in Abuja on Friday alongside former presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi, was marked by grief, solidarity, and renewed calls for responsive grassroots governance following a devastating fire that destroyed goods worth millions of naira.
Addressing traders who lost their livelihoods in the inferno, Dr. Paul described the incident as not only an economic tragedy but a deeply human one, noting that years of hard work, personal investment, and family survival were wiped out in a single night. He said the mood in the market reflected pain, unanswered questions, and remarkable resilience among the affected traders.
According to him, the losses recorded at the market go beyond figures and balance sheets, as they represent shattered dreams, disrupted family stability, and threatened sources of income for hundreds of households that depend on daily market activities for survival.
Dr. Paul said his visit was aimed at offering condolences as well as listening directly to the concerns of the traders, stressing that governance at the local level must be rooted in empathy and followed by concrete action.
“The voices of the traders, their grief and quiet strength, are reminders that leadership must begin with compassion and end with practical solutions,” he said. “No community should suffer such devastation without prompt assistance, and no market should remain exposed because systems failed to act early.”
The ADC chairmanship candidate, who is seeking the mandate to lead the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), used the opportunity to outline measures he said would be prioritised under his leadership to prevent a recurrence of similar tragedies.
He pledged that, if elected, his administration would strengthen fire service response capabilities, enforce safety standards in markets, and introduce early warning and rapid response systems to detect and contain fires before they escalate. He also promised improved coordination among emergency and disaster management agencies to ensure faster intervention when incidents occur.
“Prevention must become our first line of defence,” Dr. Paul said, adding that reactive governance often comes at a higher cost to lives and livelihoods than proactive planning.
He described markets as the backbone of the local economy, stressing that when markets are disrupted, the ripple effects are felt across families and entire communities. According to him, safeguarding markets is not only a matter of safety but also of economic stability and social welfare.
Dr. Paul assured the traders of Kugbo Market that they would not be left to bear the burden of recovery alone, promising collaboration with market associations, relevant authorities, and development partners to support rebuilding efforts and restore confidence.
“You are not alone,” he told the traders. “We will work with you to rebuild, restore hope, and ensure that help never arrives too late again.”
He added that the tragedy should serve as a turning point for AMAC, urging a shift towards preparedness, accountability, and responsible leadership capable of protecting lives and livelihoods.
The visit ended with calls for collective action, as Dr. Paul emphasised that compassion, preparedness, and inclusive governance are essential to transforming the painful experience into lasting reforms that would lead to a safer and more responsive Abuja Municipal Area Council.
Dr. Moses Paul is the ADC chairmanship candidate for AMAC ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
