President Bola Tinubu has instructed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead a high-level Federal Government delegation to Kano to offer condolences and support to the victims of the recent Singer Market fire disaster.
The delegation is set to depart from Abuja on Monday, tasked with conveying the President’s sympathy to traders who reportedly lost billions of naira when the market was engulfed in flames over the weekend.
This marks the second devastating fire at the market in less than two weeks.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga disclosed the development in a statement on Sunday, highlighting that the Federal Government would, through the delegation, also commit financial assistance to aid the victims and support Kano State in ensuring the rapid reopening of the market.
The delegation comprises top government officials, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin; Senator Kawu Ismaila; and Abubakar Kabir Bichi, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations. Additionally, the team includes the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Bernard Doro, and Mrs. Zubaida Umar, Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Onanuga stated that President Tinubu, who had earlier communicated with Governor Abba Yusuf via telephone, expressed his heartfelt condolences to both the traders affected and the broader population of Kano State. He emphasised the President’s concern over the recurring incidents at Singer Market and the immense losses suffered by traders.
The fire, which ignited on Saturday evening and raged into Sunday morning, caused significant destruction at Singer Market, widely regarded as Nigeria’s largest food market. Onanuga noted that President Tinubu was particularly troubled that this fire occurred only weeks after a previous blaze had devastated several shops and property within the same market.
In response to the repeated incidents, the President has called for a thorough investigation to determine the underlying causes of the recurring market fires, stressing the need for measures to prevent future occurrences and to alleviate the distress experienced by affected traders.
What you should know
Singer Market in Kano has experienced two major fire incidents in under two weeks, causing extensive financial losses for traders and raising concerns about market safety and emergency response.
President Tinubu has sent a high-powered Federal Government delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima to offer condolences, financial support, and assess measures to reopen the market.
Authorities have been directed to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the causes of the fires, highlighting the government’s focus on preventing further disasters.
