By Deborah Nnamdi
The Federal Government has approved N5 billion as an intervention fund for traders affected by the devastating fire outbreak at the popular Singer Market in Kano.
The approval was disclosed in a statement shared on X by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who said the support was aimed at helping victims rebuild their businesses and restore commercial activities disrupted by the inferno.
According to Shettima, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu authorized the N5 billion relief package following the destruction of goods and livelihoods in the market.
“The Federal Government has approved the sum of N5 billion as an intervention fund for traders affected by the fire outbreak that razed large sections of the popular Singer Market in Kano,” he stated.
He further revealed that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, under the Progressive Governors’ Forum, donated an additional N3 billion to support victims.
The combined intervention brings total relief support to N8 billion, intended to cushion losses and accelerate recovery efforts for hundreds of affected traders.
Authorities described the incident as not only a major loss to Kano State but also a setback to regional commerce, given the market’s strategic role in northern Nigeria’s trade network.
The fire, which broke out on Saturday evening, February 14, 2026, continued into Sunday, destroying large sections of the densely packed trading hub and disrupting economic activities across the city. The blaze reportedly started in Gidan Gilas, an area dominated by provision stores, before spreading rapidly through adjoining shops.
Initial assessments indicate that more than 1,000 shops were destroyed, crippling livelihoods and affecting hundreds of families dependent on daily trading. Seven people were initially reported missing as emergency responders combed through the wreckage.
Market fires remain a recurring challenge in major Nigerian commercial centres, often linked to electrical faults and other hazards, leading to massive economic losses. Earlier this year, a fire incident at Computer Village in Lagos destroyed computers and accessories before emergency responders contained the blaze.
Similar incidents have been recorded in other states, including a fire at the GSM Market in Damaturu, Yobe State, which destroyed dozens of shops and goods worth millions of naira. In March 2024, multiple buildings were also gutted by fire at the Eko Idumota Market in Lagos, underscoring the persistent vulnerability of major trading hubs across the country.
