Singa Market Fire: Abiodun Mourns ₦5bn Loss, Backs Kano Govt as 1,000 Businesses Burn

|By Chinwendu Nwani

Governor of Ogun State and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Dapo Abiodun, has condoled with the Government and people of Kano State following the devastating fire that ripped through Singa Market in Kano.

The inferno, which tore across the commercial hub, reportedly destroyed goods and properties valued at over ₦5 billion, crippled more than 1,000 businesses, and left seven persons missing. The blaze also consumed four residential buildings that housed several small-scale enterprises, wiping out merchandise, equipment, and other valuables.

In a statement issued on Sunday from Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Abiodun described the tragedy as one of the darkest moments in the history of Singa Market. He expressed deep sympathy for traders whose livelihoods were shattered overnight, urging them not to lose hope in the face of the massive destruction.

The governor stressed that the scale of the disaster represents a severe economic setback for hundreds of families who depend on the market for daily income and survival.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues in the Southern Governors’ Forum, Abiodun assured victims that the Kano State Government, led by Abba Kabir Yusuf, is taking decisive steps to stabilise the situation and provide relief to those affected.

He also called on market authorities and relevant local government officials to immediately strengthen safety protocols and enforce preventive measures to forestall a recurrence.

“This fire outbreak has caused tremendous damage, but I urge those affected not to despair,” he said. “The Kano State Government is doing everything humanly possible to bring the situation under control and assist the victims.”

The Singa Market fire now stands as one of the most significant commercial disasters in recent times in Kano, raising fresh concerns about fire safety standards in major markets across the country.