Central Equatoria State governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony. | File photo/Courtesy

The Governor of Central Equatoria State, Emmanuel Adil Anthony, has banned the construction of shops using corrugated iron sheets in a move aimed at discouraging the use of flammable materials, following a recent fire that destroyed Custom Market.

Governor Adil made the announcement during the launch of the Juba City Clean-up campaign, a new initiative focused on raising awareness about littering and promoting a cleaner, greener, and safer city.

Speaking at the event, Governor Adil said the ban on iron sheet construction is not intended to pressure traders but to transition towards more regulated and safer building practices.

He added that the state government is working on a master plan for Juba, which includes developing a road network and ensuring the city’s growth is well-planned.

The Governor also reiterated that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire which destroyed hundreds of shops in Custom Market.

“We are now transitioning from using corrugated iron sheets in the construction of shops. Building shops with corrugated iron sheets will no longer be permitted. I issued a decree to this effect last Thursday. I want to assure merchants that we are not putting any pressure on you, but we must begin. Let’s start by prohibiting the construction of shops using corrugated iron sheets. Let’s transition,” he said.

Last week, Governor Adil established a high-level committee to investigate the fire outbreak and submit a comprehensive report to his office within two weeks.