A major fire outbreak on Sunday morning gutted parts of the Kugbo Furniture Market in Abuja, prompting an emergency response from the Federal Fire Service (FFS) and the FCT Fire Service.
The FFS, in a statement signed by its National Public Relations Officer and Head of Corporate Services, DCF Paul Abraham, said the fire—suspected to have been caused by an electrical surge—broke out in the early hours at the popular furniture hub, where highly combustible materials increased the risk of rapid spread.
A distress call was received at about 8:37 a.m., triggering the immediate deployment of firefighters from the Special Unit at the National Headquarters. Two high-capacity ground monitor appliances were mobilised from the headquarters, while an additional fire truck responded from the Nyanya Fire Station. The FCT Fire Service also joined the operation.
Firefighters battled the inferno for more than three hours before bringing it under control, successfully preventing escalation to other sections of the market.
According to the Service, the coordinated response helped save properties estimated at about ₦1.8 billion, even as the total value of the market was put at over ₦2 billion.
The Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, commended the gallantry and professionalism of the responders, stressing that early reporting of emergencies is critical to minimising losses.
He urged members of the public to promptly alert fire authorities during emergencies and expressed appreciation to the FCT Fire Service for its continued collaboration, describing joint response efforts as vital to protecting lives and property in the nation’s capital.
