By Peter Uwumarogie
Gombe, Dec. 16, 2025 (NAN)
A devastating fire has gutted a section of the Kasuwa Katako Market in Gombe, resulting in catastrophic losses for the local timber trade. The Gombe State chapter of the Timber Sellers Association has reported that its members lost goods valued at over N600 million in the blaze, which erupted on Monday evening around 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Mohammed Ahmadu, the Chairman of the association, disclosed the staggering figure during a visit by the state’s Deputy Governor, Mr. Manassah Jatau, who came to commiserate with the affected traders on Tuesday. Ahmadu stated that no fewer than 60 shops were completely destroyed, with owners unable to salvage anything. “The fire consumed everything,” he lamented, underscoring the total nature of the loss for dozens of families whose livelihoods were stored in the market.
This incident is not an isolated one. Deputy Governor Jatau pointedly reminded the traders and their leadership of a similar fire that ravaged another section of the same market just three weeks prior. This pattern transforms a single disaster into a symptom of a deeper, systemic issue. Jatau urged the association to conduct a serious evaluation of these frequent outbreaks, moving beyond reaction to proactive prevention.
The suspected cause, according to Mr. Abdullahi Abdullahi, Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), is electrical malfunction. This aligns with a common and preventable risk in many Nigerian markets, where aging wiring, overloaded circuits, and informal electrical connections create a persistent tinderbox. Abdullahi described the recurrence as “unfortunate,” signaling a frustrating cycle of loss and recovery.
In a heartfelt plea, Association Chairman Ahmadu begged for urgent intervention from both the state and Federal Government. “We need relief to enable us to fend for our families,” he stated, highlighting the human crisis beneath the financial headline. For many of these traders, their shop inventory represents a lifetime of investment and their sole source of income, now turned to ash.
In response, the government has promised action. Deputy Governor Jatau assured that the state, in collaboration with relevant agencies, would conduct necessary assessments to provide urgent relief. He reaffirmed the administration of Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s commitment to citizen welfare. SEMA’s Abdullahi added that assessments were ongoing for immediate intervention and pledged to strengthen safety awareness drives and training for market leaders.
A Deeper Look at the Impact and Solutions:
While the N600 million loss is a headline figure, its true impact is multifaceted:
- Economic Ripple Effect: The loss disrupts the local construction and furniture-making industries that depend on this timber supply, potentially causing project delays and increased costs across Gombe State.
- Insurance Gap: Most small-scale traders in such markets operate without formal insurance, making government or charitable relief their only path to recovery. This incident is a stark reminder of the critical need for accessible micro-insurance products for informal sector businesses.
- Beyond Immediate Relief: While emergency aid is crucial, long-term solutions are imperative. The government’s mention of safety training is a start, but it must be coupled with tangible infrastructure audits. A market-wide electrical rewiring project, the installation of functional fire hydrants, and enforced safety codes could prevent future tragedies. Public-private partnerships could be explored to fund such vital upgrades.
The sole silver lining, as noted by Deputy Governor Jatau, was that no lives were lost. However, the economic livelihoods of scores of citizens have been incinerated. This fire at Kasuwa Katako Market is more than a news item; it is a urgent call for comprehensive risk mitigation, improved urban market planning, and a sustainable support system for the backbone of the local economy—its traders. The response in the coming weeks will reveal whether this cycle of destruction and promises will finally be broken.
(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
UP/CEO
Edited by Chidi Opara
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