By Ghazali Ibrahim
For the second time within a week, a serious fire outbreak has again struck a market in Kano State, causing further losses for traders already reeling from a recent inferno.
On Friday morning, February 20, 2026, a blaze broke out at the Fatima Simra Multi-Purpose Market in the Dakata area of Kano, destroying about 50 shops and goods belonging to mostly small-scale traders who sell products such as oil, plastics and nylon materials.
The fire reportedly began around 5:40 a.m., and eyewitnesses say the Kano State Fire Service was alerted as soon as the flames were noticed. Traders expressed concern about a delay in emergency response, saying firefighters arrived after the blaze had already caused extensive damage.
This latest fire comes barely one week after a devastating inferno at the popular Singer Market, which affected over 1,000 traders and wiped out sections of the busy marketplace. That earlier incident prompted federal and state government interventions, including a N5 billion relief package approved for traders and calls for improved fire safety measures.
The twin outbreaks have raised fresh worries among traders and residents about recurring market fires in Kano. The National Assembly has even initiated a probe into the Singer Market blaze, urging authorities to audit market safety standards and emergency preparedness.
As investigations continue into the cause of the latest fire, many market operators are calling on government and emergency agencies to implement stronger fire prevention strategies and improve rapid response services to protect lives and livelihoods in Kano’s bustling trading hubs.
