Kano market fire: Experts proffer solutions as KACCIMA intervenes
Kola Oyelere, Kano
KANO — Fire safety experts have blamed the recurring fire outbreaks at Singer Market, one of Kano State’s major commodity hubs, on inadequate safety measures and poor emergency preparedness, as stakeholders seek lasting solutions to the menace.
Singer Market, regarded as one of the largest commodity markets in Africa, was on Saturday engulfed by fire for the second time in 2026, destroying goods and property worth billions of naira. The latest inferno has heightened safety concerns among traders and residents.
In response to the incident, the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA) convened a stakeholders’ meeting to deliberate on preventive measures and mobilise support for affected traders.
At the meeting, the Kano State Controller of the Federal Fire Service, Kazeem Sholadoye, attributed the frequent fires to negligence by market operators, particularly the failure to install basic firefighting equipment.
He identified the absence of essential facilities such as fire extinguishers, water reservoirs, fireballs, hydrants, smoke sensors and heat detectors as factors hampering efforts to contain outbreaks.
“To talk about safety is everybody’s business. Everybody must come on board, particularly the marketers. If you look at the structure and population of the market, it is something of concern. Government alone cannot do it.
We need to come together to get water in place and other facilities that will help in fighting fire,” Sholadoye said.
He also called for the restructuring of the market to ease congestion and ensure fire trucks can access affected areas without obstruction.
Similarly, the Assistant Director of the Kano State Fire Service, Yusuf Dahiru, representing the Director, Alhaji Sani Anas, disclosed that recent investigations linked some fire incidents to solar installations within the market.
He recommended the introduction of a centralised solar power system to minimise risks associated with individual installations.
Fire officials further proposed the establishment of a “Market Fire Marshal” system — a team of trained volunteers responsible for monitoring electrical installations and enforcing compliance with safety standards.
They also decried the lack of hydrants along major roads in Kano, describing it as a serious impediment to emergency response.
Following deliberations, KACCIMA President, Ambassador Usman Hassan Darma, announced the formation of a committee to assess the situation and coordinate relief efforts.
“We convened this meeting involving stakeholders to open an appeal fund to provide relief to the affected traders. As stakeholders, we deem it necessary to help our brothers in view of the colossal loss.
We also brainstormed on why such tragedies occur and how to tackle them squarely,” Darma said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Singer Market, Barrister Junaidu
Muhammad Zakari, disclosed that over ₦15 billion worth of goods and property had been lost in a series of fire incidents.
According to him, the intensity of the latest blaze also engulfed a nearby two-storey building, which eventually collapsed, destroying everything inside.
The affected warehouses were heavily stocked with cartons of biscuits, milk products, detergents and smoked fish.
Zakari lamented that many traders operating billion-naira businesses lack insurance cover due to stringent conditions imposed by insurance companies.
“We don’t have insurance on our goods. This is because of the stringent measures given by the insurance companies. I, as Chairman, tried to pacify members to take insurance cover, but to no avail. Some of us truly have insured our businesses,” he said.
On possible government intervention, Zakari revealed that they had held several meetings with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who visited the market shortly after the incident and donated ₦100 million to cushion the losses.
He added that, in collaboration with the state government, measures were being taken to expand road networks within the market to facilitate easier movement and emergency access.
The market leadership has also mandated the provision of fire extinguishers in warehouses and shops while discouraging unsafe use of electrical appliances.
The recurring infernos at Singer Market have once again underscored the urgent need for improved safety standards, coordinated emergency planning and stronger compliance measures to safeguard lives and investments in Kano’s bustling commercial centres.