First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has announced a ₦500m relief package for businesses and groups affected by the fire that gutted parts of the SPAR shopping mall in Calabar, Cross River State.
The intervention was announced on Friday, September 4, 2026, during the launch of the South-South zonal phase of the National Community Food Bank Programme in Calabar.
Under the main component of the relief package, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved ₦25m each for 18 business owners affected by the fire.
The payments amount to ₦450m and are intended to provide immediate financial support to business owners as they begin efforts to recover from the losses caused by the incident.
“Mr President has asked me to give N25 million for each of the 18 business owners affected. This intervention is to provide immediate support and help victims recover from their losses,” the First Lady said.
The August 22 fire affected several sections of the SPAR Mall, destroying shops, goods and other property. Businesses reported to have been affected included a pharmacy, clothing outlet, perfumery and phone shop.
The Cross River State Government had earlier described the incident as a major loss to businesses and livelihoods, saying property worth billions of naira was affected.
Alongside the support for the 18 business owners, Tinubu announced another ₦50m for women’s groups in the state.
An additional ₦15m was also presented to women who welcomed the First Lady during her visit to Cross River.
The combined interventions bring the announced support to ₦515m, comprising ₦450m for the affected business owners, ₦50m for women’s groups and ₦15m for the women who welcomed her.
The fire at the Calabar mall broke out in the early hours of August 22 and spread through one of the mall’s wings, prompting traders and workers to scramble to save goods and valuables.
The immediate cause of the fire has remained subject to investigation, although an electrical fault was cited as a possible cause in early reports. No casualty had been reported in the initial accounts.
The relief package is expected to give affected business owners some financial backing as they work to rebuild their businesses following the devastating fire.
The intervention also comes as the Federal Government expands its wider support initiatives in the South-South region, with the First Lady using her Calabar visit to launch the zonal phase of the National Community Food Bank Programme.
The programme is targeted at vulnerable households across Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states, particularly children under six, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
AbdulBasit Saba is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
