President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed a full investigation into the recent fire outbreak at a major market in Kano, describing the incident as tragic.
He expressed sympathy with affected traders and residents of the state. In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President revealed that he had earlier contacted Abba Kabir Yusuf to receive an update on the situation.
According to the statement, Tinubu was particularly disturbed that the latest blaze occurred less than two weeks after a previous fire destroyed dozens of shops and valuable goods at the same market.
He consequently ordered a comprehensive investigation into the recurring market fires, noting that such incidents often leave traders devastated.
Shops and Property Destroyed
The fire reportedly broke out around 4 p.m. on Saturday and raged late into the night. Firefighters from the Kano State Fire Service, supported by the Federal Fire Service and private organisations, battled the flames for hours while traders struggled to rescue their merchandise.
Several sections of the market were affected, including the Gidan Gilas area, where numerous shops and properties were damaged.
Governor Yusuf, who visited the scene Saturday night to assess the damage, appealed to the Federal Government for support, including the provision of modern firefighting equipment and possible air assistance to curb future incidents.
The disaster follows another major fire on February 2 that destroyed goods worth billions of naira. That earlier incident impacted areas along Bello Road, including Gidan Mazaf, Gidan Taki, and Gidan Katsinawa, with large stocks of household items such as soap, detergent, and cooking oil lost.
The previous fire also drew the attention of prominent political figures, including former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who visited the market to sympathise with affected traders and evaluate the extent of the damage.
