Bosede Olufunmi Zainab
A retired Assistant Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kabiru Yusuf-Nadabo, has called for the relocation of the popular Singer Market in Kano to the Dangwaro International Market, citing persistent fire outbreaks and safety concerns.
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Yusuf-Nadabo, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Jigawa State, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Kano.
He said relocating the market had become necessary to address recurring fire incidents that have plagued the facility over the past 15 years.
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According to him, he was present at the scene of the most recent fire outbreak on February 14, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. the following day, and observed serious challenges in accessing the affected areas during rescue operations.
“It took about 12 hours to put out the fire. The current location of the market is not conducive for heavy-duty and articulated vehicles, posing serious safety risks,” he said.
Yusuf-Nadabo explained that the poor accessibility of the market makes it difficult for firefighting trucks and emergency responders to reach fire scenes promptly, thereby worsening the extent of damage.
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He added that nearly 100 trucks enter the market daily to offload goods, often blocking major adjoining roads such as Bello Road and Ibrahim Taiwo Road, which contributes to severe traffic congestion and delays emergency response efforts.
“Based on experience in traffic management and public safety, relocating the market to Dangwaro International Market will significantly reduce congestion and help prevent recurring fire outbreaks,” he said.
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The retired road safety officer urged the Kano State Government to act swiftly in the interest of public safety and sustainable urban development.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Singer Market, Junaid Zakari, told NAN that the latest fire incident destroyed goods and property worth over N5 billion, affecting more than 1,000 businesses, while seven persons were reported missing.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the market has experienced several fire outbreaks in recent years. A major fire on February 2, 2026, which began around 3:16 a.m., destroyed numerous shops before firefighters brought the situation under control without any loss of life.
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Similarly, in November 2025, an early morning fire razed 44 shops, while another incident in March 2023 destroyed over 100 shops. In November 2022, a warehouse and goods valued at more than N100 million were also lost to fire.
Yusuf-Nadabo emphasized that relocating the market to a more accessible and organized environment would enhance safety, improve emergency response, and prevent future disasters.