From Mustapha Adamu, Kano
Following the incessant fire outbreak at Singer Market, a popular grocery hub in Kano state, fire experts have attributed the problem to lack of essential safety and emergency preparations at the markets in the state.
The Singer Market, the largest commodity market in Africa, on Saturday engulfed in fire, the second in 2026, and destroyed goods and properties of multi billion Naira.
The incident raised safety concerns, as experts and stakeholders stepped in to proper lasting solutions.
In a meeting of stakeholders convened by the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, KACCIMA on Saturday, the experts highlighted ways to avert recurrence of the inferno.
Speaking at the meeting, both The federal and State Fire Service controller attributed the problem to the negligence in the part of the market operators to provide safety and emergency equipment.
According to them, lack of fire extinguisher, water reservoir, fire ball, hydrants and smoke detector are the major hinderence to efforts to put fire under control when there is outbreak.
The duo also decried congestion at the markets and lack of hydrants provided by the government on some major roads in the city as other factors that cause obstruction to fire fighters.
“To talk about safety is everybody’s business. Everybody must come on board, particularly the marketers. If you look at the structure of the market and the population of the market is something of concern.
“ Government alone cannot do it. We need to come together to get water in place, of course. They can get other facility that will help particularly in facing fire,” said Kazeem Sholadoye, Kano State Controller, Federal Fire Service
“ Firefighting Equipment say, for example, fire extinguishers, we have fireballs we have smoke sensors and heat detectors.
“These are all equipments that could be of great help that will not even allow us to, you know, feel devastating effect of fire of this nature, so they need to step up and ensure that the market is now being restructured to paveway for effective operations,” he said.
They also recommend establishment of they termed Market Fire Marshal as volunteer men to look after electric installations and ensure safety in the markets.
“ Since the recent fire incidents were reportedly caused by solar installation, there is need to provide centralized solar system in the markets, “ said tje Assistant Director, Kano State Fire Service, Yusuf Dahiru, representing Kano State Fire Service Director, Alhaji Sani Anas ta the meeting.
After all the deliberations, the president of KACCIMA, Amb. Usman Hassan Darma formed a committee to look into the situation and bring relief to the affected traders of the Singer Market.
Speaking, Darma said the meeting was convened at the behest of the Chamber to find ways of sourcing relief to the affected traders and mitigate reoccurrence of the inferno.
“ We convened this meeting that involved stakeholders to open a mind of appeal fund to provide succor to the affected traders. You know, as stakeholders, we deem it fit to see how we can help our brothers in view of the collosal loss. To also.brainstorm.on why such tragedies occur and how to tackle it squarely,” he said.
