Traders of a popular market in Ibadan are still counting their losses following a fire incident that occurred in the market recently. BAYO AGBOOLA reports.
It was weeping and wailing galore for traders at the Aleshinloye market in the early hours of Wednesday March 12 as they watched their shops numbering over 500 as well as goods and properties worth millions of naira burnt to ashes in an early morning inferno which mostly razed shops at the plastic products section of the market.
Though no one could reliably trace the main cause of the earth morning inferno to a particular source, the incident stands to be the worst fire incident in the history of the market since its establishment by the old Oyo state government under late Chief Bola Ige.
Counting the losses
One of the traders affected, Alhaja Balikis while narrating her experience said she lost over 10 shops with goods worth millions of naira. She stressed that the fire incident reportedly started from two of the shops directly facing the State Fire Service located within the market before spreading.to over 500 shops. “Efforts to curtail the spread of the fire to other outlets proved abortive. Men of the Fire services, aside, arriving the scene of the incident late, there was complaint of inadequate tools especially tanker trucks. Imagine, the Alesinloye outstation of the Fire services cannot boast of functional trucks.
According to her, “The enormity of the losses recorded would have been prevented if the fire men were alive to their responsibilities. As at present, no fewer than three affected traders are receiving medical attention at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. We live on bank loans. With this incident, our indebtedness to various financial institutions is humongous. We are appealing to Governor Seyi Makinde to come to our aid.”
A glimmer of hope
The Babaloja of Oyo state, Alhaji Yekeen Abass while speaking on the inferno lamented the incident and assured traders of the government’s support.
“Engr Makinde is a listening governor. I will take the issue to him. I am assurring you that you will get a favourable response.”
Opposition party’s challenge
Despite the huge loss, it is now a matter of blame game among stakeholders in and across the state especially the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing Gov Seyi Makinde of allegedly failing in securing lives, properties of residents.
In a statement issued by its publicity secretary, Olawale Sadare, the party lamented what it referred to as the incessant losses of lives and properties as a result of incompetence, ineptitude and negligence on the part of the state government and that Gov Makinde should admit his failure and brace up to arrest the ugly situation.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with many traders and others in the popular Aleshinloye market who lost so much in money and property as a result of the unfortunate Tuesday night fire incident even as such cases have become a recurring decimal across the state in recent times. While we sympathize with all the victims, there is a dire need to challenge the Makinde administration on their approach to issues of safety, accident prevention and management in the state. Questions are being raised regarding the ceaseless reports of inability or helplessness of the state fire department to rise to the occasion whenever one case of emergency or the other arises in any part of the state.
“Credible sources confirmed that the inferno raged for many hours as men of the Oyo State Fire Service could not do anything to help the situation due to lack of basic equipment. How does one explains to the world that Oyo state can only boast of only one or two fire fighting truck even when Gov Makinde announced to the world that he visited Turkey in 2020 to purchase 10 of such service trucks with state money running into several millions of naira?
“Another issue of concern is the damage being done to the master plan of many major market places across by the agents of the state government to enable them build lock-up shops and malls indiscriminately. Good examples are found in Bola Ige International (New Gbagi) market, Agodi-Gate Motor Spare Parts market, Bodija market, Aleshinloye market among others where new structures have been developed illegally for the purpose of enriching some individuals within the corridor of power without recourse to physical planning law and safety standards. They use state power to build on access roads, car parks and reserved spaces while they also convert toilets, waste houses and worship centres to lock-up shops.
“We appeal to Gov Makinde to empower the State Fire Service Department and ensure that adequate manpower is available for its operations in every part of the state. It is equally important for the state to prioritise safety measures such as orientation and education of members of the public on how to prevent fire incidents everywhere at all times. Also, we demand detailed information on the 10 fire fighting trucks believed to have been paid for and imported from Turkey in 2020 while measures must be put in place to arrest the unabated trend of inferno and related disasters in the state.”
Lawmaker’s sympathy
The Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Senator Sarafadeen Alli while sympathizing with the victims described the inferno as a tragic loss. “This unfortunate incident is a major setback for our hardworking traders and business community. My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have suffered losses. I feel the pain and distress this has caused and I urge the affected individuals to remain strong in these trying times.”
Senator Alli tasked Oyo state government and other relevant authorities to swiftly investigate the cause of the fire and implement measures to prevent future occurrences and that there is an urgent need for support and relief for the victims to help them recover from the losses and ameliorate their sufferings.
He reassured the affected traders of his unwavering commitment to working with other stakeholders to provide necessary assistance.
The state government on its part in commiserating with traders and victims said, “This fire incident is sad because this market has been in existence for quite some times and our men and women have been plying their trades peacefully here.”
Official state gov’t reaction
Gov Makinde represented by the deputy governor, Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal said the state government would assess the level of damage and provide immediate support to victims once it gets a full report of the incident.
“On behalf of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, I have come here today to commiserate with you over the sad incident. We thank God that no life was lost.
“This is a big and popular market. It is so painful. Please, be rest assured that the government would do the needful in terms of immediate support. It is our prayer that such will not happen again.
“As the government, we have come to empathize and to assess the level of damage that has been done as a result of the inferno.We have come and seen and we have also met with market men and women. The fire was aggravated because of the kind of trade (plastic business). So, you can expect that it would spread like a wildfire. Nevertheless, we thank God Almighty that no life was lost. As a government, we will do the needful in terms of immediate support through the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency. We will also work with the National Emergency Management Agency as well as public-spirited people to give immediate support to the victims of this incident. We will be waiting for a comprehensive report on the cause of the fire and the level of losses.This is a market that is central to commercial activities in Oyo state. People come all the way from Benin Republic, Ivory Coast and Niger Republic to trade here. So, the state government will do something.”
SEMA/NEMA react
The South West Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr Kadiri Olanrewaju during an on the spot reports of the incident confirmed that over 500 shops were razed but no fatalities were recorded.
“No fatalities were recorded; however, several individuals sustained minor injuries from smoke inhalation and shock while attempting to salvage their goods.
“Efforts to control the fire were hampered by challenges such as the absence of a functional fire trucks 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.”
With the promise by the state government and relevant agencies towards assisting victims of the devastating early morning inferno which has already left some of them hospitalized, all hopes are not lost yet even though most of them are yet to come to terms with the losses incurred from the incident with three of the affected traders on admission at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.