Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has announced plans to remodel the Alesinloye Market in Ibadan following the recent fire outbreak that ravaged sections of the market and destroyed goods worth millions of naira.
During an on-site inspection of the affected area on Tuesday, Makinde expressed his disappointment that, despite the presence of a fire station within the market, the inferno could not be quickly contained. He stressed that his administration would take decisive steps to revamp the market’s structure to prevent future fire disasters.
In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the governor assured traders that the government had already provided immediate relief measures to cushion the impact of their losses.
Makinde also ordered the suspension of the planned demolition of a section of the market until an alternative space had been secured for the affected traders. He emphasized that his government, in collaboration with the Ibadan South-West Local Government and the Ibadan South Local Council Development Area, would work to mitigate the traders’ hardship in the coming days.
He highlighted two key areas of intervention: first, ensuring the market’s fire station is fully equipped and functional to handle emergencies, and second, properly reorganizing the market layout to enhance safety.
“There are two critical aspects to address. One is to ensure the fire station within the market is fully operational so that we do not experience a similar situation in the future. The second is to provide an alternative space before any planned demolition is carried out,” Makinde stated.
He further urged traders and residents to adopt fire prevention measures, emphasizing that proactive safety precautions are more effective than reacting to disasters.
“We must create awareness and educate people on fire safety. It is always better to prevent a fire outbreak than to attempt to contain it,” he added.
The fire incident, which occurred in March, has left many traders counting their losses, with calls for government intervention to help them recover. The planned remodeling of Alesinloye Market is expected to introduce modern fire safety measures and improve the overall infrastructure to safeguard traders and their businesses.
