President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full investigation into a second major fire in less than two weeks at Singer Market in Kano, northern Nigeria, which destroyed shops and goods. The President also extended his commiseration to affected traders and the people of Kano State, describing the incident as tragic.
The latest fire broke out around 4 p.m. on Saturday and burned for several hours. Firefighters from the Kano State Fire Service, bolstered by Federal Fire Service units and private responders, battled the blaze as traders attempted to salvage their wares. The fire significantly damaged sections of the market, including the Gidan Gilas area.
This incident follows a similar, devastating fire on February 2 that destroyed dozens of shops and billions of naira worth of household goods across other market sections like Gidan Mazaf and Gidan Taki. That earlier event had already drawn prominent visitors, including former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, who came to assess the losses.
According to a statement from Presidential Adviser Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu had already contacted Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf for an initial situation report. The President expressed particular concern over the recurrence of such fires in the same market within a short timeframe.
During his own visit to the smouldering site on Saturday night, Governor Yusuf appealed to the federal government for urgent intervention. He called for the provision of modern firefighting equipment, including aerial support, to effectively combat such blazes and prevent future occurrences.
The statement from the presidency confirmed Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive investigation into the causes of recurrent market fires, which often leave small-scale traders facing severe financial hardship. The focus will be on understanding the origins of these separate but spatially linked disasters at Singer Market.
The twin disasters at one of Kano’s major commercial hubs underscore persistent challenges with fire safety and emergency response infrastructure in Nigeria’s busy markets. The ordered investigation aims to establish accountability and inform preventative measures, while the state and federal governments debate resources to bolster firefighting capacity.
