The PUNCH reports that a section of the 150-year-old mosque collapsed around 4 pm on Friday while worshippers were praying.
The governor alongside top government functionaries was on a condolence visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli in his palace, in Zaria, on Tuesday.
Sani said the state government would collaborate with the Emirate Council to expedite action on the mosque’s renovation to enable worshippers to perform their religious rites.
The governor while announcing the N1m donation to the families of the eight victims who died during the incident, also extended gifts of N500,000 each to all those that sustained injuries and still receiving treatment in the hospital while those already discharged and home, would be given N200,000 each.
“I was away on official duties when this unfortunate incident occurred. I spoke with His Highness and sent a delegation to express our condolences and for assessment.
“Today, I conveyed our condolences on behalf of the Kaduna State Government regarding the unfortunate incident that occurred at this iconic mosque,” the governor said.
This was even as the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who was also on a condolence visit, on behalf of the entire Muslim Ummah (community), sympathised with the people of Kaduna state over the tragic incident.
The Sultan, who’s also the spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims, hailed Governor Sani for his generosity as well as efforts towards renovating the collapsed mosque.
Responding, the monarch commended the governor and his cabinet for the gesture, adding that the incident affects 25 people; eight died while three were still receiving treatment at the hospital.
He added that from the brief he received from the Chief Medical Director of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, the three victims sustained multiple injuries and would undergo surgeries.
He noted that the mosque is one of the historical monuments of the state; recalling that it was constructed in the year 1835.
Bamalli commended the efforts of the state Ministry of Works, Nigerian Society of Architects and Faculty of Architecture of the Ahmadu Bello University on efforts to reconstruct the mosque.
