Relief has come for victims of the devastating Singer Market fire in Kano as the Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors pledged a combined N8 billion to support affected traders and accelerate the rebuilding of the commercial hub.
Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the N5 billion Federal Government intervention on Monday during a condolence visit to leaders and members of the market, where he also assessed the extent of damage caused by the inferno. In addition, the Progressives Governors Forum, comprising governors elected on the APC platform, donated N3 billion, bringing the total relief package to N8 billion.
The visit was carried out on the directive of President Bola Tinubu as part of efforts to cushion the economic shock suffered by thousands of small and medium-scale business owners who lost their shops and goods in the fire.
Vice President Shettima said the intervention was aimed at easing the hardship of the victims, restoring their means of livelihood and fast-tracking the reopening of the market, which remains a critical nerve centre for commerce in northern Nigeria.
Singer Market is a major hub for textiles, tailoring materials and household items, drawing traders from across the North-West, North-East and neighbouring Niger Republic. Its closure in the wake of the fire raised concerns over supply chain disruptions, potential job losses and rising prices of essential commodities across the region.
Federal officials described the support as both a humanitarian response and a strategic economic measure to prevent a prolonged slowdown in Kano’s commercial activities. The Vice President also held consultations with stakeholders on rebuilding the market with improved safety measures to forestall future incidents.
The high-powered delegation that accompanied Shettima highlighted the political and economic significance of the visit.
Among them were the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin; Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani; Senator Kawu Ismaila; and a member of the House of Representatives, Abubakar Kabir Bichi. Others were Senators Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia and Ovie Omo-Agege.
The visit also witnessed the formal reception of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf into the APC, a development analysts believe could reshape the political landscape of the state and strengthen the ruling party’s hold in the North-West.
Despite the intervention, many affected traders are still grappling with heavy losses running into millions of naira, with some depending on cooperative societies and informal loans to stay afloat. Market unions have therefore called for transparent and speedy disbursement of the funds to prevent business collapse and mass unemployment.
Officials of the Kano State Government have, however, begun preliminary assessments and provided temporary trading spaces for displaced traders, but stakeholders insist that sustained collaboration between the Federal and State Governments would be crucial for full reconstruction and the installation of modern fire-prevention infrastructure.
Observers noted that the swift response by Abuja underscores Kano’s strategic importance in Nigeria’s commercial ecosystem, warning that a prolonged shutdown of the market would have had far-reaching consequences for regional trade, household incomes and the supply of basic goods.
With the N8 billion relief package now announced, attention has shifted to the timely disbursement of the funds and the speed with which normal trading activities can resume at the market.
