A fresh fire swept through Singer Market in Kano State on Saturday, destroying shops and goods and reigniting concerns about market safety in the commercial hub.
The blaze reportedly started around 4:00 p.m. and continued late into the night, as emergency responders struggled to contain the inferno.
Firefighters from the Kano State Fire Service, backed by the Federal Fire Service and private organisations, battled the fire for several hours while traders attempted to salvage their merchandise.
The affected areas included the Gidan Gilas section of the market, where shops and property sustained significant damage.
Governor Abba Yusuf visited the scene on Saturday night to assess the situation.
He commended the efforts of firefighters and security personnel and called on the Federal Government to provide modern firefighting equipment, including air support, to help contain such disasters and prevent future occurrences.
In a statement issued Sunday by his spokesperson, Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa, the governor urged traders and residents to remain calm and cooperate with emergency responders.
The latest outbreak comes less than two weeks after a devastating fire on February 2 destroyed goods worth billions of naira.
That earlier fire affected several sections along Bello Road, including Gidan Mazaf, Gidan Taki, and Gidan Katsinawa, where large quantities of household commodities such as soap, detergent, and cooking oil were lost.
Following the February 2 disaster, prominent political figures, including Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi, visited the market to express solidarity with affected traders and called for stronger investment in emergency response systems.
The Kano State Government also pledged support for affected traders and directed relevant agencies to intensify fire-prevention campaigns across markets and commercial hubs.
Authorities are currently assessing the full extent of damage from the latest fire, while investigations into its cause are expected to follow.
The repeated incidents have been described by the state government as “deeply distressing,” prompting assurances of continued engagement with stakeholders to mitigate the impact on traders.
