After the Flames: Senate Orders Probe into Kano’s Singer Market Fire, Demands Urgent Redesign
By: Oluwaseun Lawal
Smoke has barely cleared from Singer Market in Kano, yet the questions are already rising. What went wrong. And why does this keep happening?
On Tuesday, the Senate stepped in. Lawmakers directed their Committee on Interior, chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, to dig deep into both the immediate and underlying causes of the inferno that wiped out shops and goods worth billions of naira. The panel has four weeks. No excuses.
Beyond investigation, the Senate wants change. Real change. It urged the market’s management to rethink the entire structure — redesign the layout, fix the weak points, reduce the risks. Because clearly, something isn’t working.
The motion, moved by Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin and backed by Senators Kawu Samaila and Rufai Hanga, carried strong backing across the chamber.
Lawmakers praised President Bola Tinubu for approving N5 billion to cushion the losses. They also acknowledged the N3 billion support from the Progressive Governors’ Forum. But sympathy alone won’t rebuild burnt stalls.
The Senate asked the Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to quickly assess the damage and deliver relief. It also directed search and rescue teams to locate seven traders still missing after the blaze. Families are waiting. Hoping.
There’s more. The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development was urged to design soft loans for affected traders. A lifeline, basically. And the Federal Fire Service? It now has the task of auditing fire safety compliance in major markets nationwide. A nationwide check. Long overdue, some would say.
Senator Barau painted a grim picture during debate. Over N100 billion in estimated losses. More than 1,000 businesses affected. Mostly small and medium-scale operators. People who probably had no insurance. Many didn’t.
He pointed to delayed emergency response as part of the problem. That delay may have cost more than goods — it deepened the damage.
Seven individuals are still unaccounted for. That silence weighs heavy.
Senator Aliyu Wadada pushed the conversation further. He questioned the root cause. Why do these fires keep happening? Singer Market had reportedly caught fire just weeks earlier. Coincidence? Or warning signs ignored.
Finally, Senate President Godswill Akpabio appealed to Nigerians to support the victims. He expressed hope that a redesigned market would prevent history from repeating itself.
For now, traders count their losses. Lawmakers promise action. The clock is ticking.
