The Acting Governor of Oyo State, Abdulraheem Lawal, has expressed sympathy to traders and residents affected by the recent fire outbreak at Oranyan Market in Ibadan, the state capital.
Lawal described the incident as a tragic loss that had disrupted the livelihoods of traders and caused significant hardship for affected families.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, and made available to journalists in Ibadan on Monday, the Acting Governor assured victims that the state government would stand by them during the difficult period.
He said emergency response teams had been deployed to assess the extent of the damage, while immediate relief measures were being put in place to assist those affected by the fire.
Lawal also said the government was committed to restoring the market and introducing measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
“I received with deep sadness the news of the fire outbreak that occurred at Oranyan Market, Ibadan. This unfortunate incident has caused untold hardship to our hardworking traders who lost their goods and means of livelihood in the inferno,” he said.
The Acting Governor extended the government’s condolences to the affected traders, their families and the wider Oranyan Market community.
“On behalf of the government and people of Oyo State, I extend heartfelt sympathy to all affected traders, their families, and the entire Oranyan Market community. We share in your pain and stand with you in this difficult time,” he added.
According to him, the state government was already working with relevant emergency agencies to determine the extent of the destruction and provide immediate assistance to victims.
“The State Government is already working closely with relevant emergency agencies to assess the extent of the damage and provide immediate relief to victims,” Lawal said.
He explained that the government’s intervention would go beyond immediate relief, noting that plans were also being considered to restore the affected sections of the market and strengthen safety measures.
“Beyond emergency support, we are committed to putting in place measures that will help restore the market and prevent future occurrences,” he stated.
Lawal commended the Oyo State Fire Service and other security agencies for their swift response to the incident.
He also appealed to traders and residents to remain calm and hopeful as the government continues its assessment and response efforts.
“We commend the swift response of the fire service and security agencies, and we urge our traders to remain calm and hopeful,” the Acting Governor said.
The fire outbreak has raised concerns over the safety of traders and commercial facilities in the market, particularly the need for improved fire prevention and emergency response infrastructure.
The state government is expected to determine the full extent of the losses and outline further measures to support affected traders following the ongoing assessment.