Fire Razes Popular Singa Market in Kano, Destroys Property Worth Millions

A devastating fire swept through the popular Singa Market in Kano on Saturday, destroying property worth millions of naira and leaving traders counting their losses.

Sources at the scene revealed that the inferno began at a provision store in the afternoon before rapidly spreading to adjacent shops and stalls. Despite frantic efforts by traders and residents to contain the blaze, it continued to rage for hours, overwhelming those at the scene.

As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire remained unknown, with investigations expected to commence once the situation is brought under control.

Fire Service Confirms Incident, Cites Access Challenges

Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, said personnel had been deployed to the scene to combat the fire and prevent it from spreading further.

“The fire outbreak started this evening at the Gidan Gashash area, and efforts are being made to put out the fire to prevent it from spreading further. The agency has already mobilised its personnel and vehicles to the market,” Abdullahi stated.

He, however, noted that firefighters were facing significant challenges in accessing the affected areas.

“As you know, lack of access roads within the market, as well as heavy human and vehicular movement, is affecting the movement of fire service vehicles,” he added.

Second Fire Incident in Two Weeks

Saturday’s fire marks the second such incident at Singa Market in less than two weeks. On February 2, 2026, three large stores were destroyed in another fire outbreak, resulting in substantial losses of goods and property.

The recurring incidents have raised concerns about fire safety measures within one of the North’s largest and most significant commodity markets.

Traders Lament, Calls for Safety Overhaul Mount

A former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, expressed devastation over the incident, describing it as a massive blow to traders and the regional economy.

“I am truly devastated by the fire outbreak at Singa Market, one of the largest and most important commodity markets in the North, located in Kano. Reports indicate that the severe fire started in the afternoon, and eyewitnesses have described it as massive, fast-spreading, and still raging hours later,” Ahmad wrote on his X account.

He called on authorities in Kano State to urgently review and overhaul safety measures across markets to prevent future occurrences.

“This unfortunate incident once again highlights the urgent need for authorities in Kano to comprehensively overhaul safety measures across our markets. My thoughts and prayers are with the traders and families affected by this tragic incident,” he added.

Efforts to contain the fire were still ongoing as of Saturday evening, with traders and residents anxiously watching the situation unfold.