ABUJA — Traders at the popular Kugbo Furniture Market in Abuja are counting their losses after a fire outbreak destroyed several shops and a vehicle on Friday, October 2, 2026.
The incident occurred at the busy furniture market along the Abuja-Keffi Expressway, sending traders and other people around the area into panic as thick smoke and flames spread through part of the market.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), its Abuja Operations Office received a distress call about the fire at approximately 11:15 a.m. Emergency responders, including the Federal Fire Service, were subsequently mobilised to the scene to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby shops and structures.
NEMA’s preliminary assessment showed that 21 shops and one vehicle were affected by the fire. The agency also confirmed that no casualties were recorded during the incident.
Emergency personnel worked to contain the flames while NEMA responders assisted with crowd control and other emergency operations. Some valuable items were reportedly recovered from the affected shops before the operation was concluded at about 1:40 p.m.
Traders Count Heavy Losses
The destruction has left several furniture dealers facing significant financial setbacks, with goods, materials and business equipment reportedly destroyed.
The Chairman of the Kugbo Wood Machinist Association, Godswill Ndukwe, said goods worth more than ₦500 million were destroyed in the affected section of the market, according to reports. He also said the exact cause of the fire had not been established.
The affected area reportedly contained wood, foam, local and imported boards, furniture accessories and other materials used by traders and furniture makers. The nature of these materials also made the affected shops particularly vulnerable once the fire began spreading.
Another report cited an eyewitness who said an electrical spark was noticed after electricity was restored. However, that account has not been independently confirmed as the official cause of the fire.
No Lives Lost
Despite the scale of the destruction, there were no reported deaths or injuries.
As firefighters battled the flames, traders rushed to save whatever belongings they could. Some were seen removing items from nearby shops while others watched as their businesses were damaged.
For many affected traders, the immediate concern is now how to rebuild their businesses and replace the stock and equipment lost in the incident.
Calls for Better Fire Safety
The latest fire has also renewed concerns about fire prevention and emergency preparedness at the busy market.
Ndukwe appealed to the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to take stronger measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again. Reports indicate that traders have raised concerns about previous fire outbreaks at the market.
Meanwhile, emergency authorities have brought the latest blaze under control and dampened the affected area to reduce the possibility of a secondary outbreak.
The full financial value of the damage remains subject to further assessment, while authorities are expected to establish the actual cause of the fire.
For the affected traders, however, the immediate task is clear: picking up the pieces, assessing what remains and finding a way to rebuild after another devastating fire incident.
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