Kano Singer Market Blaze: Senate orders probe, demands urgent relief for traders
The Senate on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the devastating fire that engulfed the Singer Market in Kano, a key commercial hub in Northern Nigeria, calling for immediate relief and a thorough investigation into the incident.
At an emergency sitting, lawmakers resolved to determine the root causes of the inferno, which reportedly destroyed property valued at over N100 billion and disrupted more than 1,000 businesses.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was directed to provide immediate relief materials to affected traders and coordinate efforts to locate the seven persons still reported missing.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who raised the matter under a point of order, highlighted the market’s significance to small and medium-scale enterprises — regarded as the backbone of the local economy.
He noted that the inferno has left traders and their families grappling with economic hardship and uncertainty.
Preliminary assessments suggest that inadequate firefighting infrastructure, weak emergency response systems, and a lack of modern safety mechanisms exacerbated the disaster.
Seconding the motion, Senator Kawu Sumaila stressed the strategic importance of Singer Market to regional and international trade, employment generation, and broader economic activity across Northern Nigeria.
He commended President Bola Tinubu and Northern governors elected on the All Progressives Congress (APC) for donating N8 billion in relief funds, with the president contributing N5 billion and APC governors collectively providing N3 billion.
Senator Ireti Kingibe called for concrete measures to alleviate the suffering of traders, while Senator Diket Plang warned that the massive losses, coupled with low insurance coverage, could escalate unemployment and social instability.
Senator Ahmed Wadada urged a comprehensive investigation into the repeated fire outbreaks, noting that the market had suffered a similar incident weeks earlier.
The Senate resolved that NEMA should not only provide relief but also collaborate with security agencies to locate the missing individuals.
Additionally, the Federal Fire Service was mandated to audit safety compliance, enforce maintenance regulations, and establish functional fire stations in the market area to prevent future tragedies.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio concluded deliberations by expressing hope that the relief funds would accelerate recovery and offered prayers for the victims of the disaster.
