Kano market fire: 7 missing, ₦5bn in losses as Tinubu orders probe

KanuBy Goli Innocent

Tragedy struck the historic Singer Market in Kano at the weekend as a devastating fire destroyed goods and property estimated at over ₦5 billion, affected more than 1,000 shops and left seven persons missing.

The fire accident, which began on Saturday evening in the Gidan Glass section of the market, raged through the night into early Sunday, razing four residential buildings occupied by small-scale traders and consuming wares, equipment and cash.

Chairman of the market, Junaid Zakari, described the incident as one of the worst in the market’s history.

“This is a disaster that will never be forgotten. Hundreds of families have been left without livelihoods. Emergency responders and security agencies are working to determine the cause of the fire and locate those declared missing,” he said.

Distraught shop owners stood amid the ashes, struggling to come to terms with the scale of destruction. Several traders estimated cumulative losses at over ₦5 billion.

Isa Abubakar said he lost goods worth more than ₦200 million, while Musa Ibrahim put his losses at over ₦340 million.

“The fire consumed everything we had. It is heartbreaking to see decades of hard work destroyed in hours,” Ibrahim lamented.

Many of the affected traders deal in electronics, glassware and household items, making Singer Market one of Kano’s busiest commercial hubs.

President Bola Tinubu expressed deep concern over the incident, noting that it occurred less than two weeks after another blaze destroyed dozens of shops at the same market.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the President directed security and emergency agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the repeated outbreaks of fire.

The development has renewed concerns about fire safety standards in major markets across the country.

Governor Abba Yusuf, who visited the scene, appealed to the Federal Government for modern firefighting equipment, including air support, to help contain such disasters in future.

He commended the Kano State Fire Service and security agencies for their prompt response but stressed that the scale of the blaze exposed serious gaps in firefighting infrastructure.

Residents and traders were urged to remain calm as authorities assess the full extent of the damage.

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party, called on government agencies, humanitarian bodies and private sector players to mobilise immediate support for affected traders.

“We must act swiftly to assist those who have lost everything,” he said.

Also reacting, the Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, described the incident as heartbreaking and emphasised the need for improved safety standards, fire prevention measures and public awareness campaigns.

Singer Market, one of Kano’s oldest trading centres, supports thousands of families and plays a key role in the state’s informal economy. The latest fire represents not just a humanitarian crisis but a significant economic setback for traders already grappling with rising costs and shrinking margins.

As investigations begin, attention is once again turning to the urgent need for modern fire prevention systems, regular safety inspections and better urban planning to protect lives and livelihoods in Nigeria’s crowded commercial centres.