Tinubu orders full probe into fresh Kano Singer Market fire

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the recurring fire outbreaks at Singer Market in Kano State following another devastating blaze that gutted sections of the popular commercial hub over the weekend.

The President, in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, directed relevant authorities to determine the immediate and remote causes of the inferno and recommend measures to prevent further occurrences.

The fire, which broke out on Saturday evening and raged into Sunday morning, destroyed shops and goods worth millions of naira, leaving traders counting heavy losses.

Tinubu, who had earlier contacted Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to obtain a situation report, described the incident as tragic and deeply troubling.

He expressed particular concern that the latest inferno occurred less than two weeks after a previous fire razed dozens of shops at the same market, compounding the hardship faced by traders and business owners.

The President noted that the repeated incidents raise serious questions about market safety standards, emergency response capacity and possible systemic lapses that must be urgently addressed.

Singer Market, one of Kano’s busiest trading centres, plays a critical role in food distribution and commercial activities across northern Nigeria. Recurrent fire outbreaks at major markets in the country have often been linked to electrical faults, poor storage practices and limited access for firefighting operations.

Tinubu commiserated with affected traders and the people of Kano State, assuring them that the Federal Government would work closely with state authorities to strengthen fire prevention mechanisms and improve disaster response infrastructure.

He stressed that markets remain vital to Nigeria’s economic ecosystem and must be protected through stricter compliance with safety regulations and modern firefighting strategies.

The outcome of the investigation, according to the presidency, is expected to guide corrective actions aimed at safeguarding lives, property and livelihoods in one of the country’s most important commercial centres.