A delegation of Kano business leaders and senior government officials has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently release the ₦5 billion relief fund approved for victims of the Singer Market fire disaster.
According to a statement by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Dawakin Tofa, made available to PUNCH Online on Thursday, the delegation met with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to press for the immediate disbursement of the intervention fund.
The delegation said the release of the money would provide urgent support to thousands of traders whose businesses and sources of livelihood were destroyed by the fire, while also helping to restore commercial activities at the market.
During the meeting, the representatives appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the intervention and appealed to the Federal Government to conclude the disbursement process so that affected traders could access the funds without further delay.
The delegation included the President of the Association of Kano Business Community, Alhaji Sabiu Bako; Commissioner for Finance, Dr Ismail Aliyu Danmaraya; APC National Ex Officio, Muhammad Jamu Yusuf; Chairman of Singer Market, Barrister Junaidu Muhammad Zakari; and businessman, Alhaji Kabiru Adamu Gano.
Responding, Akume assured the delegation that their concerns had been noted and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting victims of the disaster.
The ₦5 billion intervention was previously announced by Vice President Kashim Shettima during a reception organised to welcome Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf into the All Progressives Congress.
Shettima had said President Tinubu approved the ₦5 billion to the Kano State Government as a palliative for victims of the Singer Market fire. He also disclosed that the Progressive Governors’ Forum had pledged an additional ₦3 billion to support the affected traders.
The latest appeal is aimed at ensuring that the promised intervention reaches the victims and supports the recovery of one of Kano’s major commercial centres.
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