Fire guts North-West University, destroys property

A blaze erupted at the city campus of North-West University Kano on Thursday, destroying property estimated to be worth millions of Naira.

Although no fatalities were recorded, one staff member sustained injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.

The fire, which began around 11:20 am, affected the offices belonging to the Head of Department and lecturers within the Information and Communication Technology department. It was reportedly triggered by an electrical spark.

A security personnel, trained in handling fires, was taken to the university clinic after inhaling smoke while trying to combat the blaze.

Firefighters from both the Kano State Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service arrived swiftly at the scene, effectively preventing the flames from spreading to other areas.

Confirming the occurrence, the Director of Kano State Fire Service, Sani Anas, stated that the fire was contained before it could reach other parts of the building.

In addition, the University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mukhtar Kurawa, said that although the fire had been put out, the full scale of the destruction had not yet been assessed.

“We cannot quantify the losses at this time, but we are thankful to God that no lives were lost,” he stated.

He also pointed out that the institution has a standing policy that mandates switching off all electrical appliances at the end of each day to promote safety, cut down on power use, and reduce operational expenses.

“Routine inspections are carried out to ensure compliance across all departments,” Kurawa added.