By Uzair Adam
The Kano State Government has inaugurated a 23-member high-level committee to supervise the disbursement of N8 billion in financial assistance and relief materials to victims of the Singer Market fire disaster.
The Daily Reality reports that the inferno, which razed sections of the market on two separate occasions, caused massive economic losses, with traders losing goods and business capital estimated at billions of naira.
Inaugurating the committee on Tuesday in Kano, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Umar Faruq, said the panel was constituted to ensure transparent and equitable distribution of the intervention funds.
Faruq, who was represented by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Maude, SAN, noted that members were drawn from critical sectors to guarantee credibility and accountability in carrying out the assignment.
According to him, the committee, chaired by the SSG, is tasked with promoting fairness, transparency and accountability in ensuring that only genuine victims benefit from the support.
The committee comprises commissioners, representatives of the State Emergency Management Agency, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Kano Emirate Council, religious leaders and representatives of the affected traders.
Faruq said the panel would assess the extent of the damage, evaluate material and capital losses suffered by traders and develop a workable framework for the disbursement of the funds.
He added that the committee would also review existing safety gaps within the market and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence of such fire incidents.
Part of its terms of reference, he explained, includes ensuring timely distribution of the assistance and sustained engagement with stakeholders and the media to build public confidence in the process.
The Chairman of the Kano Traders Association, Alhaji Sabi’u Bako, commended the governor for what he described as a prompt and structured response to the tragedy.
He also appreciated the Federal Government for sending a delegation to sympathise with the victims, assuring that the committee would discharge its duties with fairness and sincerity.
Bako said although the actual number of affected traders and the total value of losses were yet to be determined, only verified victims would benefit from the intervention.
The disaster drew the attention of President Bola Tinubu, who approved N5 billion as palliative support for the traders. Similarly, the Progressives Governors Forum contributed N3 billion to aid recovery efforts.
Earlier, victims of the Singer Market fire received N200 million in cash support from Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf and the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, to cushion the impact of the disaster.
