Vice-President Kashim Shettima has announced a N5 billion donation from the federal government to traders affected by the fire that gutted parts of Singer Market in Kano on Saturday.
According to NAN, Shettima disclosed the intervention on Monday during a sympathy visit to the market.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier directed the Vice-President to lead a federal delegation to Kano State to convey “sympathy and support” to victims of the disaster.
In a statement issued on Sunday evening, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said the fire began on Saturday evening and raged into Sunday morning, destroying sections of what he described as Nigeria’s “largest food market”.
“The President was particularly alarmed that the latest incident occurred less than two weeks after a previous fire destroyed dozens of shops and property at the same market,” the statement read.
Onanuga added that the delegation would “convey President Tinubu’s condolences to the traders who lost billions of Naira in the weekend fire that engulfed the market, marking the second incident in just two weeks”.
“The team will also pledge financial assistance to aid victims and support Kano State in facilitating the quick reopening of the market,” he said.
Speaking during the visit, Shettima said the intervention was intended to help traders rebuild their businesses and revive commercial activities 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,” Shettima said.
Describing the incident as a national tragedy, the Vice-President noted that the loss extended beyond Kano State to the entire country.
He was accompanied on the visit by the governors of Jigawa, Kebbi and Imo states. Shettima also offered prayers for the victims and expressed hope that such an incident would not recur.
Junaid Zakari, Chairman of the Singer Market Traders Association, expressed appreciation to the federal government for what he described as a timely and generous intervention.