President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sympathy for traders and residents of Kano State following a devastating fire outbreak at the Singer Market over the weekend.
Describing the incident as tragic, the President has ordered a comprehensive investigation into its causes.
In a statement issued on Sunday, February 15, by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu expressed concern over the recurring fire incidents at the market.
The latest outbreak, which started on Saturday evening and raged into Sunday morning, occurred less than two weeks after a similar fire destroyed shops and property in the same market.
The President reportedly contacted Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to obtain a situation report and directed authorities to carry out a thorough probe into the persistent market fires that have repeatedly left traders in despair.
The fire has caused widespread concern in Kano, with traders counting heavy losses and several people feared missing.
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Chairman of the Singer Market, Junaid Zakari, disclosed that the blaze destroyed properties worth over ₦5 billion, affecting more than 1,000 businesses. Seven persons had been declared missing as of Sunday.
Governor Yusuf, who visited the Gidan Gilas section of the market while the fire was still raging, called on the Federal Government to urgently provide modern firefighting equipment, including air support, to strengthen emergency response capacity.
He commended the Kano State Fire Service and security agencies for their efforts in battling the blaze and urged residents to remain calm.
Affected traders described the scale of the losses as devastating.
Isa Abubakar reported losing goods valued at over ₦200 million, while Musa Ibrahim said the inferno consumed items worth over ₦340 million.
Authorities are yet to officially determine the cause of the fire, as emergency responders continue to search for missing persons and affected traders assess the extent of their losses.