By Obinna Uballa
President Bola Tinubu has commiserated with traders and the people of Kano State over the devastating fire outbreak at the popular Singer Market in Kano metropolis, ordering a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the inferno and promising financial assistance to victims.
The President’s position was disclosed in separate statements by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, following the Saturday evening fire that engulfed the market and continued into Sunday morning, destroying goods worth billions of naira.
According to traders and market leaders, the blaze – said to have started in a large provision store – razed hundreds of shops, four residential buildings housing small-scale businesses, and property estimated at over N5 billion. More than 1,000 businesses were reportedly affected, with seven persons declared missing as of Sunday.
Tinubu, who had earlier reached out to Abba Kabir Yusuf by telephone to obtain a situation report, described the incident as tragic and alarming, particularly as it occurred less than two weeks after a previous fire destroyed dozens of shops at the same market.
He directed that a thorough investigation be conducted into the recurrent market fires, which have left traders in despair, and mandated Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead a Federal Government delegation to Kano to express sympathy and deliver support to victims.
The delegation, scheduled to depart Abuja on Monday, is expected to formally convey the President’s condolences and pledge financial assistance to aid affected traders, as well as support the Kano State Government in facilitating the quick reopening of the market.
Members of the delegation include the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin; Senator Kawu Ismaila; and Rep. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, Chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriation Committee. Also on the team are the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, and the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mrs. Zubaida Umar.
Officials of the emergency agency were seen at the scene of the incident as efforts continued to assess the damage and determine the cause of the fire.
Chairman of the market, Junaid Zakari, described the incident as one of the worst tragedies in the market’s history. He disclosed that goods, equipment, and other valuables were completely burnt, crippling the livelihoods of hundreds of families.
Zakari said seven persons had been declared missing, adding that investigations were ongoing to determine their whereabouts and confirm whether they were alive or dead.
He stressed the urgent need for support to help affected traders rebuild their businesses and commended Governor Yusuf for visiting the scene while the fire was still raging, describing the swift response as a demonstration of concern and solidarity.
Some traders recounted heavy losses. A shop owner, Isa Abubakar, said he lost goods worth over N200 million.
“From God we come, and to Him we shall return. It is heartbreaking to see goods worth billions of naira destroyed by fire,” he lamented.
Another trader, Musa Ibrahim, said goods valued at over N340 million were consumed in the blaze.
“The fire consumed everything we had,” he said.
During his visit to the Gidan Gilas section of the market while the fire was still raging, Yusuf called on the Federal Government to urgently provide modern firefighting equipment, including air support, to curb recurring incidents.
