The devastating inferno at the historic Singer Market in Kano has destroyed properties worth over N5 billion, affected more than 1,000 businesses, and left seven persons missing.
As gathered by Theliberationnews, the blaze, which started Saturday evening in the Gidan Glass section, raged into Sunday morning, ravaging four residential buildings housing small-scale traders and consuming goods, equipment, and valuables.
Market Chairman, Junaid Zakari, described the incident as one of the worst tragedies 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.
Shop owners recounted the scale of their losses, estimating total damages at over N5 billion. Isa Abubakar said he lost goods worth over N200 million, while Musa Ibrahim reported losses exceeding N340 million. “The fire consumed everything we had. It is heartbreaking to see decades of hard work destroyed in hours,” Ibrahim said.
Governor Abba Yusuf visited the scene and called on the Federal Government to provide modern firefighting equipment, including air support, to contain the blaze and prevent future disasters. He commended the Kano State Fire Service and security agencies for their efforts and urged residents and traders to remain calm.
President Bola Tinubu expressed deep concern over the fire, noting it occurred less than two weeks after another blaze destroyed dozens of shops at the same market.
He directed a comprehensive investigation into the causes of the repeated fires, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), called on government agencies, humanitarian organizations, well-meaning individuals, and private sector actors to mobilize resources immediately to support affected traders. “We must act swiftly to bring this inferno under control and assist those who have lost everything,” he said.
The Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, described the fire as “heartbreaking” and called for urgent relief for affected traders, emphasizing the need for improved safety standards, fire prevention measures, and public awareness to prevent future disasters.
Singer Market, one of Kano’s oldest and busiest commercial hubs, is home to thousands of traders whose daily activities sustain families and the local economy.
This latest disaster represents a major economic setback and underscores the urgent need for better fire prevention infrastructure across the state.
