The Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has commiserated with the Government and people of Kano State over the devastating fire outbreak at Singa Market in Kano.

The inferno reportedly destroyed properties worth over ₦5 billion, affected more than 1,000 businesses, and left seven persons missing.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Abiodun described the incident as one of the most unfortunate tragedies in the history of the market.

He sympathised with traders who lost valuable goods and properties, urging them not to lose hope, assuring that the Kano State Government would take necessary steps to support affected victims.

According to him, the destruction of four residential buildings housing small-scale businesses, alongside the loss of equipment, merchandise, and other valuables, was a heavy blow to the livelihoods of many families.

The Ogun State Governor also called on market authorities and relevant local government officials to implement measures to prevent future occurrences.

He said: “On behalf of my colleagues in the Southern Governors’ Forum, I commiserate with the Kano State Government and the traders affected by this unfortunate incident.

“This fire outbreak has caused tremendous damage, but I urge those affected not to despair.

“The Kano State Government, under the leadership of Abba Kabir Yusuf, is doing everything humanly possible to bring the situation under control and assist the victims.”

By Augustine Akhilomen

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has accused the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, under Nuhu Ribadu of acquiring a highly poisonous substance, thallium sulphate, from Poland.

El Rufai, who made this known via his X handle on Sunday, stated that he had written formally to the National Security Adviser seeking explanations over the alleged transaction.

The former governor described thallium compounds as extremely hazardous and subject to strict international controls, arguing that the alleged importation raised serious questions around public safety and transparency.

The post reads: “As part of my duty as a citizen, I wrote to the NSA to seek clarification on reports about the importation by his office of thallium sulphate, a very dangerous toxin.

” It’s a matter of concern if anyone brings in any poison, more so an odourless, colourless one,” El-Rufai wrote on X.

He also sought to know whether relevant regulatory and public-health authorities, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, were involved in assessing potential risks or developing safety and mitigation plans.

“I am writing as a concerned citizen to seek clarification and reassurance regarding information available to the political opposition leadership about a procurement of approximately 10 kilograms of Thallium Sulphate by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), reportedly from a supplier in Poland,” the letter read.

…Shettima to lead FG delegation to Kano

President Bola Tinubu has ordered an investigation into the fire outbreak that destroyed shops and goods at Singer Market in Kano State.

He commiserated with traders and people of the state over the devastating fire incident, which he described as tragic.

The Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Sunday, said Tinubu had earlier reached out to Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf to obtain a situation report on the fire.

“The President was particularly alarmed that the latest incident came less than two weeks after another fire destroyed dozens of shops and property at the same market.

“President Tinubu directed a comprehensive investigation into the causes of the market fires, which often leave traders in despair,” the statement partly read.

The blaze reportedly started at about 4 p.m. on Saturday and continued to burn late into the night.

Emergency responders from the Kano State Fire Service, supported by the Federal Fire Service and some private organisations, battled the inferno for several hours as traders attempted to salvage their goods.

The fire affected parts of the market, including the Gidan Gilas section, where shops and property were damaged.

Governor Abba Yusuf, who later visited the scene on Saturday night to assess the situation, called on the Federal Government to intervene by providing modern firefighting equipment, including air support and other critical tools, to help contain the fire and prevent future recurrences.

The fire disaster came less than two weeks after a devastating fire swept through the market in the early hours of February 2, destroying goods worth billions of naira.

That incident affected several sections along Bello Road, including Gidan Mazaf, Gidan Taki, and Gidan Katsinawa, where large quantities of household commodities such as soap, detergent, and cooking oil were lost.

The incident attracted the attention of political figures, including two former presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, who visited the market to sympathise with traders and assess the scale of losses.

Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima has been directed to lead a high-powered Federal Government delegation to Kano to express sympathy and offer support to victims of the devastating Singer Market fire disaster, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced.

This was disclosed by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President in Information and Strategy on Sunday.

The delegation, set to depart Abuja tomorrow, will convey the President’s condolences to traders who lost billions of Naira when the market was engulfed in flames over the weekend.

As this marks the second fire at the market in just two weeks.

On behalf of the government, the team will also pledge financial assistance to aid affected traders and support Kano State in facilitating a swift reopening of the market.

President Tinubu, in a telephone conversation with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, expressed his condolences to the traders and the people of Kano State over the devastating fire outbreak.

Members of the delegation include Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Senator Barau Jibrin, Deputy Senate President; Senator Kawu Ismaila; Rep. Abubakar Kabir Bichi.

Chairman of the House Appropriation Committee; Dr Bernard M. Doro, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs; and Mrs Zubaida Umar, Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).