The southwest zonal coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mr Kadiri Olanrewaju has said over 500 shops and stalls were destroyed by fire at the Aleshinloye market on Tuesday night.
Mr. Olanrewaju made this known in an on the spot assessment report on the incident which was obtained by newsarena.ng
He, however, said efforts to control the fire were hampered by challenges such as the absence of a functional fire truck at the market’s fire station and an inadequate water supply.
The southwest NEMA coordinator said despite the setbacks, responders successfully prevented the fire from spreading to other sections of the market.
Mr. Olanrewaju said initial assessments estimate financial losses in the hundreds of millions of naira while many traders had recently restocked their businesses, worsening their financial burden.
He said the fire has severely disrupted economic activities, impacting both traders and supply chains.
He said “No fatalities were recorded. However, several individuals sustained minor injuries from smoke inhalation and shock while attempting to salvage their goods. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the fire started in the Plastic Merchants section of the market before rapidly spreading to surrounding stalls due to the highly flammable nature of stored goods.
“Emergency response teams included: The Oyo State Fire Service, Private fire units from SWEETCO and SUMAL, Market security personnel and local volunteers.
“Efforts to control the fire were hampered by challenges such as the absence of a functional fire truck at the market’s fire station and an inadequate water supply. Despite these setbacks, responders successfully prevented the fire from spreading to other sections of the market.
“In response to the incident, Oyo State Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal visited the market to assess the damage. The state government has committed to: Providing immediate relief support to affected traders through the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (OYSEMA) and NEMA. Conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the fire and implement preventive measures.
“To mitigate the risk of future occurrences, NEMA recommends the following: Strengthening Fire Safety Measures, Equipping market fire stations with functional fire trucks and adequate water supply, Conducting regular fire drills and safety training for traders, Enhancing Emergency Response Infrastructure, Establishing a well-equipped emergency response unit within the market.
“Strengthening partnerships between the federal and state governments and private organizations to improve disaster response, Supporting Affected Trader, Providing emergency relief packages to help traders recover.
