Tinubu Directs Probe Into Kano Market fire

President Bola Tinubu has expressed sympathy with traders and residents of Kano State over the destructive fire outbreak, describing the incident as heartbreaking.

He has mandated a thorough investigation into the blaze that razed shops and merchandise at Singer Market in Kano State.

In a statement released on Sunday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed that Tinubu had earlier contacted Governor Abba Yusuf to receive a detailed briefing on the situation.

“The President was particularly alarmed that the latest incident came less than two weeks after another fire destroyed dozens of shops and property at the same market.

“President Tinubu directed a comprehensive investigation into the causes of the market fires, which often leave traders in despair,” the statement partly read.

Reports indicate that the fire broke out around 4 p.m. on Saturday and continued raging until late at night.

Firefighters from the Kano State Fire Service, with assistance from the Federal Fire Service and several private organisations, battled the flames for hours while traders struggled to rescue their wares.

The inferno impacted sections of the market, including the Gidan Gilas area, where numerous shops and properties sustained damage.

Governor Abba Yusuf later visited the site on Saturday evening to evaluate the extent of destruction and appealed to the Federal Government for support through the provision of modern firefighting equipment, including aerial assistance and other essential resources, to curb the blaze and forestall future occurrences.

The incident occurred less than two weeks after another major fire engulfed the market in the early hours of February 2, destroying goods valued at billions of naira.

That earlier outbreak affected various areas along Bello Road, such as Gidan Mazaf, Gidan Taki, and Gidan Katsinawa, where substantial stocks of household items including soap, detergent, and cooking oil were consumed by the flames.

The disaster also drew visits from prominent political figures, among them former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, who came to commiserate with affected traders and evaluate the magnitude of the losses.