Senate Calls for Probe into Singer Market Fire Incident

The Nigerian Senate has urged a probe into the recent fire at Singer Market, with Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin co-sponsoring the motion alongside Senator Kawu Samaila and Rufai Hangar. The Senate expects the committee to submit its findings within four weeks.

They have called on the market's management to redesign its layout to reduce vulnerability to future fires. The Senate commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving a donation of N5 billion to support victims, while the Nigeria Governors' Forum contributed N3 billion.

They have also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assess the damage and provide relief to affected traders, with seven individuals reported missing. The Senate expressed concern over the estimated loss exceeding N100 billion, affecting around 1,000 businesses.

They emphasized the need for a soft loan scheme for victims and a nationwide audit of safety compliance in major markets to prevent future incidents.