Barely a week after a similar inferno ravaged parts of the same market, a fresh fire outbreak has destroyed shops, goods and property worth over N5 billion at Singa Market in Kano.
  The blaze, which reportedly started at about 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, continued into the night and affected more than 1,000 businesses. Seven persons were reported missing as of the time of filing this report.
 Singa Market, a major commercial hub in Kano and one of the largest markets in northern Nigeria for provisions, foodstuffs and household wares, supplies goods to several northern states. The market has, however, recently experienced repeated fire incidents.
  
Chairman of the market, Mr Junaid Zakari, disclosed this in Kano yesterday while speaking with journalists. He described the incident as one of the worst tragedies in the market’s history, revealing that four residential buildings housing small-scale businesses were razed.
  Zakari said emergency responders and security agencies were working to ascertain the cause of the fire. He stressed the urgent need for support to enable affected traders to rebuild their businesses, describing the incident as a tragedy that would not be forgotten in the history of the market.
  He, however, commended the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, for visiting the scene while the fire was still raging, saying the swift response demonstrated concern and solidarity with the victims.
  
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has expressed sympathy with traders and residents of Kano State following the destructive fire outbreak at Singer Market over the weekend, assuring victims of the Federal Government’s concern and support, while calling for a thorough investigation into the incident.
In response to the development, President Tinubu contacted Governor Yusuf to receive an immediate situation report and convey his condolences to affected traders and their families.
  The President described the development as tragic and worrisome, particularly as it occurred barely two weeks after a similar fire incident at the same market destroyed numerous shops and valuable property.
  
He directed relevant authorities to undertake a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the latest inferno and recommend practical preventive measures. The President emphasised the need for stricter safety compliance, improved fire-prevention infrastructure and stronger enforcement of regulations in public markets across the country.
  Tinubu also assured affected traders that government agencies would explore avenues of support to cushion the impact of their losses, stressing that protecting livelihoods and safeguarding commercial centres remain critical to economic stability and community well-being.