The Federal Authorities has accepted N5 billion as an intervention fund for merchants affected by the hearth outbreak that devastated the favored Singer Market in Kano.
This was disclosed in a press release shared by Nigerian Vice-President, Kashim Shettima on X.
The intervention comes after a serious inferno destroyed items and livelihoods, leaving a whole lot of merchants struggling to recuperate.
What the Vice President stated
In accordance with Shettima, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu accepted the N5 billion assist to assist victims rebuild their companies and restore business exercise out there.
- “The Federal Authorities has accepted the sum of N5 billion as an intervention fund for merchants affected by the hearth outbreak that razed massive sections of the favored Singer Market in Kano,” he acknowledged
He added that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, beneath the Progressive Governors’ Discussion board, additionally donated N3 billion to victims of the inferno.
- The mixed intervention brings complete reduction assist to N8 billion, aimed toward cushioning losses and accelerating restoration for a whole lot of affected merchants.
- Authorities described the incident as not solely a loss to Kano State however a setback to regional commerce, given the market’s function in northern Nigeria’s commerce community.
Backstory
The fireplace that devastated Singer Market over the weekend is likely one of the worst market disasters recorded in Kano lately.
- The blaze broke out on Saturday night, February 14, 2026, and continued into Sunday, destroying massive sections of the densely packed buying and selling hub and disrupting financial actions throughout town.
- The incident reportedly started in Gidan Gilas, a bit dominated by provision shops, earlier than spreading quickly by way of tightly packed outlets. Seven individuals had been initially reported lacking as emergency responders searched by way of the wreckage.
- In accordance with reviews, early assessments present the hearth destroyed over 1,000 outlets, crippling livelihoods and affecting a whole lot of households depending on every day buying and selling actions.
What you need to know
Market fires stay a recurring problem in main Nigerian business centres, typically linked to electrical faults, amongst others, repeatedly inflicting huge losses.
Earlier this yr, a hearth broke out at a constructing in Pc Village, one of many nation’s largest know-how markets. The blaze, which destroyed computer systems and equipment, was contained by emergency responders from LASEMA, who carried out damping-down operations to stop re-ignition whereas defending neighbouring constructions. (nairametrics.com
- Fires have additionally affected different components of the nation. The GSM Market in Damaturu, Yobe State, suffered a devastating fireplace that destroyed 34 outlets and items valued at roughly N150 million. Merchants reported that the hearth unfold quickly regardless of early efforts by native residents and fireplace service personnel, with the precise trigger remaining unsure, although electrical and photo voltaic installations had been suspected. Governor Mai Mala Buni subsequently donated N100 million to assist affected merchants, highlighting the human and financial toll such disasters take.
- Even earlier, in March 2024, fires gutted a number of buildings within the Eko Idumota Market in Lagos, affecting a number of buildings together with a two‑storey and a 3‑storey construction that housed outlets promoting garments, luggage and footwear
