Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Kano State at the head of a high-powered Federal Government delegation to assess the damage and commiserate with victims of the devastating fire that razed parts of the historic Singer Market.

The visit, ordered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, comes as the state grapples with the aftermath of a massive blaze that reportedly destroyed over 1,000 shops and resulted in the loss of goods valued at over N5 billion.

Federal Support and Condolences

The Vice President is accompanied by a top-tier team, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin; and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Bernard Doro.

Speaking on behalf of the President, the delegation is expected to announce a specialized financial assistance package to help affected traders—many of whom have lost their entire livelihoods—recover from the tragedy. The Federal Government has also pledged to work closely with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration to ensure the market, a critical hub for food commodities in Northern Nigeria, is reopened as safely and quickly as possible.

A Troubling Pattern

This latest inferno, which began on Saturday evening and raged through Sunday morning, is the second fire incident at Singer Market in less than two weeks. The recurring nature of these disasters has sparked serious concern at the highest levels of government.

President Tinubu has reportedly directed a comprehensive investigation into the causes of these frequent outbreaks. Preliminary reports from market authorities suggest that four residential buildings housing small-scale businesses were completely leveled, while seven individuals remain unaccounted for as search-and-rescue efforts continue.

Governor’s Call for Action

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who was at the scene while the fire was still active, had previously called on the Federal Government for urgent intervention, specifically citing the need for modern firefighting equipment and air support to manage large-scale market disasters.

Local traders have expressed despair, with some reporting individual losses exceeding N300 million. “The fire consumed everything we had,” said Musa Ibrahim, a grain merchant. “We are looking to the government for more than just words; we need a complete overhaul of the safety systems here.”

The Vice President’s delegation is also expected to meet with traditional rulers and community leaders in Kano to discuss long-term safety reforms for the state’s major commercial centers.