A high-powered delegation of Kano business leaders and senior state officials has met with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, to press for the immediate release of a promised ₦5 billion Federal Government relief fund for victims of the Singer Market fire disaster.
The financial intervention was originally announced by Vice President Kashim Shettima during a reception to formally welcome Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Yusuf had defected to the ruling party on 26 January 2026, alongside 22 members of the state House of Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives, and 44 local government chairmen. At the event, Shettima also revealed that the Progressive Governors’ Forum, chaired by Governor Hope Uzodimma, had pledged an additional ₦3 billion to assist affected traders.
Details of the delegation’s visit to the SGF were made public in a statement released on Thursday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Dawakin Tofa. According to the release, the representatives visited Akume’s office to remind the central government of its pledge to support thousands of traders whose livelihoods were destroyed by the inferno, stressing that prompt disbursement is vital to speed up the recovery of commercial operations in the market.
While expressing appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for approving the aid, the team appealed for the swift completion of the payout process so victims could access the money without further delay. Speaking at the January reception, Vice President Shettima had assured the state of the administration’s backing, stating: “President Bola Tinubu has approved the release of N5bn to the Kano State Government as palliative support for this incident.”
The visiting delegation comprised Kano State Commissioner for Finance, Dr Ismail Danmaraya; President of the Association of Kano Business Community, Alhaji Sabiu Bako; Chairman of Singer Market, Junaidu Zakari; APC National Ex-Officio, Muhammad Yusuf; and local businessman, Alhaji Kabiru Gano.
In response, Akume assured the group that their demands had been noted, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to standing by the victims of the market disaster.