Reporting by Daily Post indicates that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has made an urgent appeal to the Federal Government for modern firefighting equipment, including air support, following a second devastating fire at the Singer Market. The Governor, who visited the scene while the fire was still active, stressed that the state’s current fire service capacity is insufficient to protect its vast commercial hubs.
The latest inferno, which razed the Gidan Gilas section of the market, occurred less than two weeks after a similar incident in the same area. The Governor commended the courage of the local fire service but noted that without specialized tools like firefighting helicopters, containing blazes in densely packed markets remains nearly impossible.
Governor Yusuf also called for a thorough investigation into the recurring nature of the fires to determine if they are accidental or the result of sabotage. The state government has pledged to support affected traders, though the scale of the losses is estimated to be in the billions of Naira.
Channels TV verified the Governor’s visit, reporting that the fire caused significant panic in the Kano metropolis. A trader quoted in The Punch lamented, “I have lost everything for the second time this month; we need more than just sympathy from the government.” Premium Times also covered the story, quoting an emergency responder: “The narrow access roads made it extremely difficult for our trucks to reach the heart of the fire.”
Echotitbits take: The recurring fires in Kano’s markets are a major threat to Northern Nigeria’s largest economy. Beyond equipment, the state needs a radical redesign of market layouts to allow for emergency access. Watch for a possible federal intervention involving the Air Force’s disaster response unit.
Source: Vanguard- https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/02/gov-yusuf-seeks-fgs-intervention-in-singer-market-fire/amp/, and February 15, 2026
Photo credit: Vanguard
Tag: fire service
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Kano Governor Seeks Federal Air Support Following Massive Market Inferno
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Night Fire Guts Lagos Island High-Rise, Traders Count Losses as Rescue Efforts Continue
Photo Credit: The Punch
2025-12-26 06:10:00Reporting by *PUNCH* indicates that a major blaze at the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) House area on Lagos Island triggered panic among traders and residents, with emergency responders battling the flames and attempting to secure adjoining structures.
Witness accounts described a chaotic scramble as shop owners tried to salvage goods, while authorities moved to cordon off streets and restrict movement around the incident zone.
Beyond the immediate human-safety concerns, the disruption hit Christmas-period commerce, forcing nearby markets and shops to suspend activity and deepening losses for small businesses already strained by costs and weak demand.
Officials are expected to provide fuller incident reports on suspected ignition points, building compliance issues, and enforcement actions to prevent a repeat.
Channels Television reported the governor saying the 25-storey GNI building “will be demolished once the inferno is completely put out,” while *TheCable* quoted LASEMA’s update: “The fire has now been contained by the combined efforts of responders at the scene.”
Echotitbits take: Lagos fires are increasingly becoming an economic story, not just a safety headline—inventory losses, insurance claims, and shutdown days compound hardship. Watch for transparent structural integrity assessments, accountability on fire-safety compliance, and credible relief measures for affected traders.
Source:The Punch p — Dec 26, 2025 (https://punchng.com/lagos-fire-china-returnee-others-still-trapped-in-22-storey-building/)
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Lagos Island High-Rise Fire Leaves Injuries, Renews Safety Questions
Photo Credit: Vanguard
2025-12-25 10:15:00Writing in a holiday update, Vanguard reports that a major fire outbreak tore through parts of a high-rise building on Lagos Island, leaving multiple people injured and forcing emergency services into a complex containment operation.
The incident raised fresh concerns about fire readiness in dense commercial corridors—especially in older high-rise clusters with limited access routes for responders.
Separately, Punch also reported the blaze and the emergency scramble around the area as responders worked to prevent spread to surrounding structures.
In related coverage, TheCable reported that Lagos emergency officials deployed specialised response teams, underscoring how quickly such incidents can escalate in congested island districts.
Echotitbits take: Lagos’ recurring high-rise fire episodes keep pointing to the same pressure points: building compliance, hydrant availability, access for trucks, and occupant evacuation drills. Watch for an official incident report that names the building’s compliance status, the ignition source, and whether sanctions or mandatory retrofits follow.
Source: Vanguard — December 25, 2025 (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/12/fire-razes-parts-of-25-storey-building-on-lagos-island/)
Vanguard 2025-12-25