The Federal Government has approved a N5 billion relief package for traders affected by the devastating fire that razed parts of Singer Market in Kano last Saturday.
Vice President Kashim Shettima led a federal delegation to Kano to commiserate with victims of the inferno, which destroyed goods worth billions of naira and left hundreds of traders counting their losses.
Speaking during the visit, Shettima said the intervention was aimed at helping victims rebuild their businesses and restore economic activity in the market.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the sum of N5 billion to support traders affected by the Singer Market fire. The Federal Government stands with you in this moment of hardship and will continue to provide the necessary support,” the Vice President said.
He described the incident as a “painful setback” for the business community and assured traders that the government would work with relevant agencies to prevent future occurrences.
In a related development, the All Progressives Congress Governors’ Forum also announced a donation of N3 billion to support the affected traders.
A representative of the forum said the contribution was part of efforts by All Progressives Congress (APC) governors to demonstrate solidarity with the victims.
“The APC Governors’ Forum has resolved to contribute N3 billion to assist traders who suffered losses in the fire incident. We share in your pain and remain committed to supporting recovery efforts,” the representative stated.
After meeting the victims, the Vice President proceeded to the Sani Abacha Stadium, where he attended a political event marking the reception of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf into the APC.
The fire, which broke out on Saturday evening and continued into the early hours of Sunday, reportedly destroyed a significant number of shops, with traders estimating losses running into billions of naira. Investigations into the cause of the blaze are ongoing.
