A devastating fire was still raging in parts of Singa Market in Kano State up till the early hours of Sunday, over 12 hours since a massive blaze broke out and destroyed goods worth millions of naira.
The inferno, which started on Saturday evening, spread rapidly razing large sections of the market.
As of the time of filing this report, flames were yet to be completely extinguished, while the exact cause of the incident remained unknown.
The Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, said lack of access roads significantly affected their firefighting efforts.
“Lack of access roads within the market, as well as heavy human and vehicular movements, were affecting the movement of fire service vehicles,” he said, adding that personnel were working under difficult conditions to bring the situation under control.
Many traders reportedly stayed through the night in desperate attempts to salvage their goods as thick smoke enveloped the market. Sympathisers also gathered at the scene to support affected shop owners.
Meanwhile, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf visited the market while the fire was still raging late Saturday night.
According to a press release signed by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the governor arrived at Singa Market “while the fire was still raging and causing damage to shops and property.”
Governor Yusuf, the release stated, “called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene by providing modern firefighting equipment, including air support and other essential tools, to help contain the fire and prevent future occurrences.”
He further noted that such intervention would “strengthen the capacity of fire services to respond effectively to emergencies in major commercial centres like Singer Market.”
The governor also “commended the efforts of the Kano State Fire Service and other security agencies for their commitment in battling the inferno,” urging traders and residents to remain calm and cooperate with emergency responders.
There was no official confirmation of any casualty as at press time.
It was reports that this is the second fire outbreak at Singa Market in less than two weeks, with the first incident being on February 2, 2026, leading to significant losses estimated in millions of naira.