Fire destroys shops, goods worth millions at Kano Singer market

From Desmond Mgboh, Kano

A dawn fire outbreak at Singer market in the metropolis of Kano State has destroyed shops and goods worth millions of naira.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the Public Relations Officer, Kano State Fire Service, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, announced that no fewer than 44 shops were affected directly by the fire outbreak.

He disclosed that the fire occurred at about 5:00 a.m. on Monday morning, adding that the fire affected one-storey building inside the market known as “Alhaji Abdulmunafi Yunusa House”.

According to the statement, the fire destroyed 25 temporary shops at the front of the said building and 19 shops on the upper floor while adding that the Service prevented the spread of the fire to the remaining 24 shops on the same floor as well as to the rest of the shops on the ground floor.

The statement attributed the fire to a faulty electrical connection of the central switch.

Meanwhile, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabiru Yusuf, has commiserated with traders affected by the fire outbreak.

Represented by the Commissioner for Investment, Commerce, Industry, and Cooperative, Gwani Shehu Wada Sagagi, the Governor sympathised and assured them of the government’s support to alleviate their losses.

He explained that Singer Market was one of the most important markets in the country and the sub-region and expressed concern over the increasing frequency of fire incidents in markets across the state.

He directed the Ministry of Investment, Commerce, Industry, and Cooperative to sensitise the traders on the benefits of Islamic Insurance (Takaful) as a means of mitigating losses resulting from fire and other unforeseen accidents.