Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A devastating fire swept through the Sokoto State secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the early hours of Saturday, 2 May 2026, completely destroying the building and reducing to ashes property and critical records accumulated over more than three decades. The blaze reportedly started around 3:00 a.m. and spread rapidly before emergency responders could arrive, leaving the secretariat in ruins by dawn. The inferno consumed computers, printers, refrigerators, televisions, office furniture, and – most painfully – decades of vital documents, including agreements, membership records, and other administrative files that formed the backbone of the union’s operations in the state.
The Secretary of the NLC Sokoto State Council, Hamisu Hussaini Hamisu, who visited the scene shortly after the fire was brought under control, said preliminary findings point to an electrical fault as the most likely cause. “We suspect it was caused by an electrical fault. By the time the fire was noticed, it had already spread across the building,” he told journalists. According to Hamisu, the security guard on duty tried to contain the flames but was overwhelmed by their intensity and speed. The guard’s efforts proved futile as the fire continued its relentless advance through the building. Firefighters arrived about an hour after the incident was reported, but by then the damage was already extensive. They eventually put out the flames, but the secretariat had been almost completely gutted.
The destruction has been described as total, with no item recovered from the office. “Everything was burnt. We lost documents and equipment built over many years. Nothing could be salvaged,” Hamisu lamented. The loss of these records, accumulated over more than 30 years, has thrown the council into mourning and raised urgent concerns about the union’s ability to continue its work in the state. Many of the destroyed documents contained vital information on workers, agreements, and activities that had guided the labour movement in Sokoto for generations.
The NLC State Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Aliyu, popularly known as “Jungle”, expressed deep anguish over the incident, describing it as both “unfortunate and disheartening”. “This is a painful loss for the labour movement in Sokoto. The extent of destruction is enormous, and it comes at a time we were just reflecting on the significance of workers’ welfare and unity,” he said. He added that the immediate priority would be to begin the process of recovery and rebuilding. “We have lost everything. We need to start again,” he told reporters.
Several eyewitnesses reported that the fire started quietly, with smoke and flames initially unnoticeable, allowing it to gain momentum before anyone could raise the alarm. One eyewitness noted that the fire had already spread across most offices by the time the firefighters arrived. “The firefighters tried their best, but the fire had already destroyed most parts of the building before they arrived,” the witness said. Officials of the Sokoto State Fire Service confirmed that no life was lost in the incident, but they noted that the rapid spread of the fire had made containment extremely difficult. The exact cause remains under investigation, though officials have not ruled out the possibility of recurring power surges, which have become increasingly common in parts of the state.
The incident has reignited calls for urgent improvements in Nigeria’s power infrastructure. Observers have pointed to the growing threat posed by unchecked electricity fluctuations, which have been linked to a rising number of fire outbreaks in recent months. The blaze adds to a troubling pattern of fire incidents in public buildings, especially older structures with outdated electrical systems. “Incidents like this have raised questions about the need for regular maintenance and proper safety measures to prevent such disasters,” a labour member told The Meteor.
As investigations continue, labour leaders and concerned citizens are urging the Sokoto State Government and the Federal Government to provide immediate support to rebuild the secretariat and restore union activities. “We cannot afford to be without a functional secretariat. The NLC is the voice of Nigerian workers, and that voice must continue to be heard,” a senior labour official said. For now, the charred remains of the secretariat stand as a stark reminder of the fragility of the nation’s infrastructure and the heavy cost of neglect.
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