President Bola Tinubu has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead a high-powered Federal Government delegation to Kano to express sympathy and support for victims of the Singer Market fire disaster.
The delegation, set to depart Abuja on Monday, will convey the President’s condolences to traders who reportedly lost billions of naira in the weekend blaze, the second fire to hit the market in just two weeks.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the delegation will also pledge financial assistance on behalf of the Federal Government to support victims and help Kano State facilitate the market’s swift reopening.
Key members of the delegation include the Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senator Kawu Ismaila, and Abubakar Kabir Bichi, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations.
Also joining are the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Bernard Doro, and Mrs. Zubaida Umar, Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Onanuga noted that President Tinubu, who spoke by phone with Governor Abba Yusuf, expressed deep condolences to traders and residents over the devastating fire at Singer Market, Nigeria’s largest food market.
The fire, which started on Saturday evening and continued into Sunday morning, caused extensive damage. The President expressed particular concern that this incident occurred less than two weeks after another fire destroyed dozens of shops and property at the same market.
He has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the causes of the recurring fires, which have continued to leave traders in distress.
