Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Kano, Nigeria — A significant fire broke out in the bustling Singa Market in Kano State on Saturday, forcing traders and residents to contend with extensive destruction as goods and properties valued at millions of naira were consumed by the blaze. The inferno, which erupted in the afternoon at a provision store within the market, quickly spread to adjacent shops and stalls, leaving traders in shock and raising urgent concerns about market safety and fire prevention infrastructure.
Eyewitness accounts and official confirmations indicate that the fire began in the Gidan Gashash area of the market — one of the busy commercial sections — and expanded rapidly before emergency services could fully contain it. Despite the efforts of the Kano State Fire Service, which mobilised personnel and fire trucks to the scene, the blaze progressed quickly through the congested market environment, destroying goods across multiple stalls before the situation was brought under control.
Saminu Abdullahi, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, confirmed that the fire started in the evening and that responders were deployed promptly to prevent further spread. However, he noted that narrow access roads and heavy human and vehicular traffic within the market compounded the challenges of firefighting operations, making it difficult for fire trucks to move unhindered through the area.
Preliminary reports suggest that the cause of the fire remains unconfirmed, with authorities yet to establish what sparked the blaze. Traders, many of whom had only just reopened shops after a previous fire incident on February 2, expressed frustration that another conflagration would devastate livelihoods already strained by repeated losses.
The recent outbreak follows a similar fire earlier in the month that destroyed several large stores at the market, underscoring a worrying pattern of fire incidents at this key commercial hub. During that earlier incident, several major shops were engulfed in flames and traders reported significant losses before firefighters could suppress the blaze.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) immediately activated a multi-agency response to assist firefighting efforts at Singa Market. Teams from the Federal Fire Service, Kano State Fire Service, fire units from Aspira Nigeria Limited and Dangote Group, the Kano State Emergency Management Agency, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society worked together to reduce the fire’s intensity and prevent it from spreading to neighbouring areas. Emergency responders remained on the scene into the evening as they continued containment efforts and sought to fully extinguish lingering hotspots.
Despite the rapid spread of the fire and the extent of the damage to goods and infrastructure, there were no confirmed reports of injuries or fatalities at the time of reporting. Many traders, however, suffered severe economic losses as stocks of foodstuffs, textiles, household items and other merchandise were destroyed.
The repeated fire outbreaks at Singa Market have intensified calls from traders and community leaders for improved market safety measures. Traders emphasised the need for better access routes for emergency vehicles, organised fire prevention systems, and stricter enforcement of safety standards within the sprawling commercial complex. Some expressed concern that without systemic reforms, similar conflagrations could recur with even greater consequences.
Local observers and analysts have pointed to longstanding structural challenges within Nigerian markets, including congested layouts, limited access for emergency services and makeshift electrical installations, as factors that heighten the risk of fire outbreaks. These conditions, combined with the dense clustering of flammable goods, create environments where even small sparks can escalate into destructive infernos.
In response to the latest blaze, the Kano State Government has previously taken steps to assist affected traders. Following earlier fire incidents, Governor Abba Yusuf approved relief support — including a N100 million donation to cushion losses — and announced plans to rehabilitate road networks around markets like Singa to improve access and reduce response times for emergency services.
The repeated fires at Singa Market have broader implications for economic stability in Kano, where markets are central to local commerce and livelihoods. Traders rely on these hubs for the sale and distribution of goods, not only within the city but across northern Nigeria. Disruptions caused by such disasters can reverberate through supply chains, affecting prices and availability of essential commodities.
As investigations continue into the cause of the recent fire, stakeholders are expected to intensify discussions around market safety reforms. Traders, civil society groups and government officials alike have stressed the need for coordinated strategies that balance commercial vibrancy with robust risk mitigation — a combination viewed as necessary to protect livelihoods and prevent future market calamities.
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