Kano Gov Seeks FG Aid After Market Blaze
Last update: February 15, 2026
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Updates are expected as assessment teams complete their on-ground evaluation of the extent of the damage.
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has urgently appealed to the Federal Government for immediate intervention and support after a devastating fire ravaged one of the state's busiest markets, leaving scores of traders in ruins.
CBI News reports that the blaze, which reportedly started on Saturday afternoon February 14, swept through large sections of the market, destroying goods worth hundreds of millions of naira, shops, warehouses, and essential infrastructure.
Many small and medium-scale business owners have lost their entire stock of goods including foodstuffs, textiles, electronics, and household items plunging families into sudden hardship.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as traders and residents attempted to salvage what they could while fire service personnel battled the inferno for several hours. Preliminary reports suggest the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault, though investigations are ongoing.
In a statement issued by the Government House, Governor Yusuf expressed deep sympathy with the affected traders and described the incident as a major blow to the state's economy, given the market's central role in commerce and livelihoods across Kano and neighboring regions.
The governor highlighted the need for:
- Emergency relief materials and financial assistance for victims
- Reconstruction and rehabilitation of damaged market sections
- Improved fire-fighting equipment and rapid-response infrastructure
- Enhanced safety measures to prevent future occurrences
He called on the Federal Government, through relevant agencies such as NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency), the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and other intervention funds, to step in swiftly to alleviate the suffering of the traders and help restore normalcy.
Local government officials and community leaders have also begun mobilizing support, while some philanthropists and business groups have pledged donations to the victims.
Traders, meanwhile, are appealing for both short-term relief and long-term measures to make markets safer and more resilient against such disasters.
