Barely a week after a devastating fire at Singer Market, a fresh blaze on Friday morning destroyed about 50 shops at the Fatima Simra Multi-Purpose Market in Dakata, Kano State, deepening fears over the spate of market fires in the city.
The fire reportedly began around 5:40 a.m., catching traders and residents off guard. Flames rapidly engulfed a section of the market known for small-scale industrial activities, including vegetable oil processing, plastic recycling, and nylon production—businesses reliant on flammable materials and machinery.
Dauda Haruna Chula, chairman of the market’s fire committee, confirmed the destruction, saying, “As of the early hours of today, about 50 shops have already been destroyed and the fire is still burning. We alerted the fire service and we can hear their sirens approaching.”
No casualties were officially reported, but traders feared substantial financial losses due to the destruction of equipment, raw materials, and finished goods. Many expressed frustration over delayed emergency response, a recurring concern in Kano’s major markets.
The latest blaze follows the Singer Market fire, which displaced over 1,000 traders and destroyed goods worth millions of naira. Repeated incidents have intensified calls for better fire safety infrastructure, improved market planning, and faster emergency intervention.
Kano, a key commercial hub in northern Nigeria, has seen multiple market fires in recent months, often linked to electrical faults, storage of flammable materials, and poor urban planning. Limited access roads for fire trucks and dense market layouts make containment challenging.
Firefighters were still battling the Dakata blaze as of Friday morning, with the cause yet to be determined. Officials said a full investigation would commence once the area is safe. Authorities face renewed pressure to enforce safety regulations, equip markets with functional fire stations, and educate traders on preventive measures.
