Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has called on Nigeria’s Federal Government to provide modern firefighting equipment following a major blaze at the Singer Market, as he visited the disaster site to assess the ongoing emergency.
The fire, which broke out in the Gidan Gilas section of the sprawling market in Kano metropolis, was still raging during the Governor’s inspection on Sunday. The outbreak has resulted in significant damage to shops and goods, disrupting commercial activity in one of northern Nigeria’s most vital trading hubs.
In a statement from his spokesperson, Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa, Governor Yusuf praised the swift response of the Kano State Fire Service and security agencies who have been battling the inferno. He urged market traders and local residents to remain calm and cooperate fully with emergency responders to ensure an orderly and safe response.
Highlighting the limitations of current firefighting capabilities, the Governor appealed for urgent federal intervention, specifically requesting aerial support and advanced tools to finally contain the blaze. His call extends to a broader need to strengthen the institutional capacity of fire services nationwide to respond effectively to emergencies in major commercial centres, thereby preventing future recurrences of such devastating incidents.
This incident underscores persistent challenges in fire safety infrastructure in Nigeria’s large urban markets. Singer Market is a critical economic artery for Kano, a state whose economy is heavily reliant on commerce. The scale of the damage is expected to impact thousands of traders and supply chains across the region. The Governor’s appeal places pressure on national authorities to address the gap in emergency response resources, framing the local disaster as a symptom of a systemic national issue requiring coordinated federal action. The situation remains fluid, with containment efforts ongoing.
