Federal Delegation Dispatched to Kano Following Devastating Market Fire
Vice President Kashim Shettima is set to lead a high-level Federal Government delegation to Kano following a catastrophic fire that ravaged Singa Market over the weekend. The visit, scheduled for Monday, aims to convey President Bola Tinubu’s profound condolences to the numerous traders who have suffered immense financial losses, estimated to be in the billions of naira, due to the inferno.
The fire, which commenced on Saturday evening and persisted into Sunday morning, inflicted widespread destruction upon the market, marking the second such incident to engulf Singa Market within a fortnight. Beyond offering sympathy, the delegation is empowered to pledge financial assistance from the Federal Government to support the victims and aid Kano State in expediting the market’s reopening.
The delegation comprises prominent figures, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin; alongside Kawu Ismaila and Abubakar Kabir Bichi, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations. The team also includes the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Bernard Doro, and the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar.
President Tinubu had previously contacted Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State to express his condolences to the traders and residents. The President has also mandated a comprehensive investigation into the recurring market fires, directing that the root causes of these repeated disasters be thoroughly examined. This directive was issued after the President received a situation report from Governor Yusuf.
Urgent Calls for Enhanced Firefighting Capacity
Governor Yusuf had earlier appealed to the Federal Government for immediate intervention, specifically requesting the provision of modern firefighting equipment, including crucial air support. This plea came in the wake of the second fire outbreak at Singa Market within a short period. During an assessment of the affected Gidan Gilas section of the market, Governor Yusuf emphasized that such federal assistance would significantly bolster the fire services’ ability to respond effectively to emergencies in major commercial hubs across the nation.
“This intervention will go a long way in enhancing the operational capacity of our fire services and minimising the scale of destruction recorded during such unfortunate incidents,” a statement from the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa, quoted Governor Yusuf as saying. The governor urged traders and residents to maintain calm and cooperate with emergency responders as efforts continued to bring the situation under control.
Governor Yusuf also personally donated N100 million to the traders affected by the blaze.
Solidarity and Condolences Pour In
In the wake of the disaster, political figures and governmental bodies have extended their sympathies and support. The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, accompanied by former APC national chairman, Dr. Umar Ganduje, visited the market to commiserate with the affected traders. They spent time interacting with victims, assessing the damage, and offering words of comfort.
The Southern Governors’ Forum also issued a statement expressing their commiseration with the government and people of Kano State. The forum’s chairman and Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, described the incident as a profound tragedy, sympathizing with traders who lost valuable goods and properties and urging them to remain hopeful. The forum highlighted the destruction of residential buildings housing small-scale businesses as a significant blow to the livelihoods of many families.
Similarly, the Northern States Governors’ Forum conveyed its deep sympathy to all those impacted by the fire. The chairman of the forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, lamented the recurring nature of market fires in the North, noting their detrimental effect on livelihoods and economic stability.
Former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, described the incident as devastating and called for an urgent mobilization of resources from all relevant agencies, including federal and state fire services, security outfits, humanitarian organizations, and the private sector, to contain the inferno and provide relief.
Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, used his X (formerly Twitter) handle to call for a thorough assessment of the causes of the fires, aiming to implement practical measures for market safety. He commended the efforts of emergency responders and volunteers.
Scale of Destruction and Historical Context
The chairman of Singa Market, Junaid Zakari, reported that property worth over N5 billion was destroyed, impacting more than 1,000 businesses. Tragically, seven individuals were reported missing as of Sunday. He characterized the incident as one of the market’s worst tragedies, with four residential buildings housing small businesses completely razed.
Singa Market has a history of recurrent fires, with previous outbreaks in 2023 and as recently as November 2025, which saw 44 shops destroyed. Investigations into past incidents have consistently pointed to poor handling of electrical appliances and faulty wiring as primary causes.
Emergency responders on Saturday faced challenges, with the initial water supply from the Kano State Fire Service truck being exhausted. A second truck and a private water tanker later joined the firefighting efforts.
