Traders in Tears, Count Losses as Fire Destroys Furniture Market
- A devastating fire tore through the Sabuwar Lale furniture market in Kano, destroying dozens of shops overnight
- Traders said the blaze, which began around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, wiped out millions of naira worth of goods
- Although no lives were lost, the incident left many business owners without their main source of livelihood
A major fire outbreak destroyed the Sabuwar Lale furniture market in Tal’udu, Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State in the early hours of Sunday, December 21, 2025.
According to Dailytrust, eyewitnesses reported that the fire began at about 2:30 a.m. and spread quickly across the market, consuming many shops before officials of the Kano State Fire Service arrived.
Source: Getty Images
Traders count heavy losses
One of the affected traders, Bashir Ustaz, said he was devastated when he arrived at the market and found his shop completely destroyed.
“Around 3 a.m. I was called and told that fire had broken out at the market. When I arrived, what I saw made me close my eyes. Everything I owned was destroyed by the fire,” he said.
He explained that just a day before the incident, the market had been busy and crowded, but by morning, everything had been reduced to ashes.
Market leadership reacts
The Vice Chairman of the market, Adamu Mansur, popularly known as Madaki, confirmed that the fire started around 2:30 a.m. and raged until dawn.
“The fire was burning from about 2:30 a.m. until morning. We pray that Allah replaces our losses with something better,” he said.
Madaki noted that traders could not yet estimate the total value of their losses but revealed that some shops lost furniture worth millions of naira. He explained that in his own shop, over 40 sets of furniture were destroyed, including several sets valued at more than N5 million each.
He appealed to the Kano State Government and well-meaning individuals to support the affected traders, stressing that the scale of destruction was overwhelming.
Reports indicated that at least 11 permanent shops and about 20 temporary structures were completely burnt. Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control after the early morning prayers.
Source: Original
Livelihoods destroyed
Although no lives were lost, traders said the incident had cut off their main source of livelihood. Many expressed concern about how they would recover from the losses without urgent assistance.
As at the time of filing this report, the Kano State Fire Service had not issued an official statement on the cause of the fire.
Speaking with Legit.ng, AbdulRasheed Hussain, a policy analyst based in Nigeria, shared his thoughts about the fire accident:
“The fire at Sabuwar Lale furniture market is a devastating reminder of the vulnerability of Nigeria’s informal economy. While no lives were lost, the destruction of dozens of shops and goods worth millions of naira has left traders without their livelihoods overnight. Such incidents expose the absence of effective fire prevention systems, poor infrastructure, and inadequate emergency response capacity in many markets. Beyond prayers and sympathy, authorities must prioritize safety regulations, install fire-fighting equipment, and provide relief packages to affected traders. Without proactive measures, these recurring market infernos will continue to erode economic stability and deepen hardship for ordinary Nigerians.”
Fire razes Trademore estate market
Legit.ng earlier reported that an early morning fire has devastated the only market in Trademore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, leaving residents in shock. The fire reportedly started around 3.30 am when the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) restored electricity.
The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined. The inferno quickly engulfed the market before emergency services could respond. Residents reported a tense and chaotic scene as the fire spread.
Efforts by residents to contact the Federal Fire Service and the Federal Capital Territory Fire Service were initially unsuccessful. The fire service attached to Dunamis Church arrived at the scene around 5 am, followed closely by firefighters from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Sauka Station.
Source: Legit.ng
