The Federal Government has approved a ₦515 million intervention package for businesses affected by the devastating fire that broke out at the SPAR shopping mall in Calabar, Cross River State, on August 22, 2026.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, announced the intervention on Friday during her visit to Cross River State, where she also commissioned the South-South phase of the National Community Foodbank Programme.
According to the First Lady, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved ₦25 million each for 18 business owners whose businesses were affected by the fire.
The direct allocation to the 18 affected entrepreneurs amounts to ₦450 million. An additional ₦50 million was presented to the wife of the Cross River State Governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, for the support of women’s groups, while another ₦15 million was given to women who welcomed the First Lady during her visit to the state.
Together, the three components make up the ₦515 million intervention announced by the Federal Government.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu said the relief package was approved in response to the losses suffered by businesses during the August 22 fire.
She conveyed President Tinubu’s sympathy to the Cross River government and residents affected by the incident, particularly business owners whose livelihoods were disrupted.
“Mr. President commiserates with the government and people of Cross River over this unfortunate incident that destroyed many businesses and livelihoods,” she said.
The First Lady explained that the financial intervention was intended to provide immediate assistance to the affected entrepreneurs and help them begin the process of rebuilding after the losses.
The fire at the SPAR shopping mall affected several businesses, with property and goods worth billions of naira reportedly destroyed.
For the affected traders and entrepreneurs, the government said the financial support was designed to provide some immediate relief as they work towards restoring their businesses and sources of income.
The largest portion of the package, ₦450 million is earmarked for the 18 business owners whose operations were affected by the fire. Each beneficiary is to receive ₦25 million under the presidential intervention. The allocation represents the Federal Government’s direct relief component for the businesses affected by the incident.
The remaining ₦65 million of the overall package consists of the ₦50 million designated for women’s groups through the governor’s wife and ₦15 million presented to women who welcomed the First Lady.
Receiving the First Lady in Cross River, Governor Bassey Edet Otu expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and Senator Oluremi Tinubu for the intervention. The governor described the relief package as timely assistance for the businesses that suffered losses in the fire.
According to Otu, the support would give the affected entrepreneurs an opportunity to begin rebuilding their businesses and restoring their livelihoods following the destruction.
The governor also commended the Federal Government for extending the National Community Foodbank Programme to the South-South region.
During the visit, Senator Oluremi Tinubu commissioned the South-South phase of the National Community Foodbank Programme, a government initiative aimed at improving access to food and tackling malnutrition among vulnerable households.
The programme is designed to expand access to nutritious food for vulnerable families while complementing other government measures addressing food insecurity.
The First Lady said the initiative would provide additional support to households facing food-related challenges and strengthen ongoing efforts to improve food security.
Governor Otu welcomed the programme’s arrival in the region and expressed satisfaction that Cross River was selected to host the South-South phase.
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He said the initiative would strengthen social protection efforts and improve the welfare of vulnerable residents.
The governor described the selection of Cross River as a sign of the Federal Government’s commitment to confronting food insecurity and providing support to Nigerians facing difficult economic circumstances.
The August 22 fire at the SPAR shopping mall caused significant disruption to businesses operating within the complex, with reports indicating that goods and property worth billions of naira were destroyed.
The Federal Government’s intervention therefore combines direct financial assistance for the affected businesses with broader support for women and vulnerable households through the additional components announced during the First Lady’s visit.
The ₦515 million package represents the latest federal response to the incident, with the ₦450 million business component specifically targeted at the 18 entrepreneurs identified as beneficiaries.
