Aleshinloye Market traders lament losses after fire outbreak

By Adejayan Gbenga

Traders at Aleshinloye Market in Ibadan are counting their losses after a fire outbreak destroyed about 1,000 shops on Wednesday. The National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), Ibadan Operation Centre, confirmed that 500 traders were affected.

Although the cause of the fire remains unknown, traders expressed frustration, stating that the damage could have been minimized if firefighting resources had been readily available on-site. Many also lamented the absence of functional fire trucks at the time of the incident.

A trader, who requested anonymity, said, “I just stocked my shop last week with a loan of N5 million. If we had functional fire trucks, the situation would have been different. I’m really in pain.” Another trader added, “By the time firefighters arrived, everything had already turned to ashes.”

Some traders called on the government to establish fire stations in every major market in Ibadan to prevent similar disasters. One trader questioned why a market as large as Aleshinloye lacked a fire service facility, calling it a failure of governance.

A male trader said, “It is disturbing to hear that there was no truck available to put out the fire. The government must do the needful.” Another added, “If a fire station had been nearby, the destruction wouldn’t have been this severe.”

In response, the Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Moroof Akinwande, stated that resources were limited and could not be stationed in every location.

Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde has commiserated with the affected traders and assured them of immediate support to mitigate their losses.

Traders, however, insist that beyond financial aid, the government must take proactive measures to prevent future fire disasters in major markets across the state.