Kano Market Fire: N5bn in Assets Destroyed and Seven Missing at Singer Market
Over 1,000 Businesses Affected in Devastating Singer Market Blaze
A catastrophic fire at the historic Singer Market in Kano has resulted in the destruction of property and goods valued at over ₦5 billion, with at least seven individuals reported missing. The blaze, which began on Saturday evening, February 14, 2026, and lasted into Sunday morning, decimated more than 1,000 shops and several residential buildings used for commercial purposes.
The Chairman of Singer Market, Alhaji Junaid Zakari, confirmed the scale of the disaster to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday. According to Zakari, the fire is one of the most severe in the market's history, effectively crippling the livelihoods of hundreds of families. The inferno reportedly originated in the Gidan Glass section of the market before spreading rapidly to four residential-commercial complexes housing various small-scale enterprises.
As of Sunday afternoon, seven people remained unaccounted for. Zakari noted that search and rescue operations are ongoing, conducted by emergency responders and security agencies to determine the whereabouts and status of the missing individuals.
The financial impact on individual traders has been profound. Local merchant Alhaji Isa Abubakar reported losses exceeding ₦200 million, while another trader, Musa Ibrahim, estimated his losses at more than ₦340 million. These figures contribute to an early aggregate estimate of ₦5 billion in total economic damages.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf visited the scene while the fire was still active to assess the damage and offer support to the victims. During his visit, Governor Yusuf called on the Federal Government to bolster the state’s firefighting capabilities, specifically requesting modern equipment and air support to manage large-scale urban fires.
The Presidency has also reacted to the incident. President Bola Tinubu, through his spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, expressed deep concern over the recurring nature of these disasters, noting that this is the second significant fire at Singer Market in less than two weeks. Consequently, President Tinubu has directed a comprehensive investigation into the underlying causes of these frequent outbreaks to prevent future occurrences.
While the Kano State Fire Service and private sector water tankers eventually contained the blaze, the specific cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Market leaders and victims have appealed for urgent humanitarian and financial intervention to assist in the reconstruction of the market and the restoration of business activities.
This disaster underscores the persistent vulnerability of Nigeria’s major commercial hubs to fire outbreaks and highlights a critical need for enhanced fire safety protocols and infrastructure in densely populated trading zones.
