President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the latest fire incident that ravaged parts of the popular Singer Market in Kano State, leaving traders counting heavy losses.
Gatekeepers News reports that the President expressed deep sympathy with affected traders and residents of the state, describing the incident as heartbreaking and deeply troubling.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu disclosed that he had personally contacted Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, to receive firsthand details on the scale of the destruction and the response efforts.
According to the statement, the President was particularly disturbed that the inferno occurred barely two weeks after a similar outbreak had destroyed numerous shops and properties in the same market, raising concerns about recurring safety lapses.
He consequently directed relevant agencies to carry out a thorough investigation to uncover the root causes of the repeated fires and propose lasting preventive measures.
The latest blaze reportedly erupted around 4 p.m. on Saturday and raged for several hours into the night. Firefighters from the Kano State Fire Service, supported by operatives of the Federal Fire Service and private emergency responders, worked tirelessly to contain the flames, while desperate traders struggled to salvage their merchandise.
Sections of the market, especially the Gidan Gilas area, were badly affected, with dozens of shops and goods reduced to ashes. Eyewitness accounts indicated that the fire spread rapidly due to the dense nature of the market and the highly flammable materials stored in many of the stalls.
Governor Abba Yusuf, who visited the scene later that night to assess the extent of the destruction, appealed to the Federal Government for urgent assistance. He called for the provision of modern firefighting equipment, including aerial fire suppression support, rapid-response vehicles, and advanced rescue tools, to strengthen the state’s capacity to tackle future emergencies.
The incident occurred less than two weeks after a devastating early-morning fire on February 2 swept through the same market, destroying goods valued at several billion naira.
That earlier inferno affected multiple sections along Bello Road, including Gidan Mazaf, Gidan Taki, and Gidan Katsinawa, where traders lost large stocks of essential household items such as soap, detergents, vegetable oil, and other consumables.
The scale of the repeated destruction has drawn nationwide attention and concern, prompting visits from prominent political figures, including former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, who toured the market to sympathise with victims and evaluate the magnitude of the losses.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing, with calls mounting for stricter safety regulations, improved emergency preparedness, and better infrastructure within major markets to prevent future tragedies.
