Akesan Market Fire: Sports Minister donates relief materials to victims

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, has said that the priority of all tiers of government should be  to ensure that victims of the Akesan Market fire get the needed assistance to enable them to get back on their feet.

He stated this in Oyo Town on Thursday when he visited the Palace of Alaafin Oyo to present relief materials to victims of the fire which include: Sewing machine, washing machine, bakery component, grounding machine, among others.

He said he was in the ancient town to also commiserate with the people on the fire disaster that razed Akesan market in the early hours of last Sunday.

“I have written and spoken with Minister of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs, who is on lesser Hajj. She has assured that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) will intervene.

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“I am confident that the minister will do the needful when she visits Oyo next week.

“I had promised to work with all the relevant stakeholders to bring succour to those affected by the fire. Earlier today I was in Ibadan, where I engaged Governor Seyi Makinde on this matter. I will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders to see what intervention can be made to bring relief to victims of the fire.

“The priority is to ensure that victims of the fire get the needed assistance to help them get back on their feet,” the Minister added.

Mr Dare, who hails from Oyo State, later presented the relief materials to the Alaafin of Oyo,  Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.

The Minister also visited the burnt market where he encouraged victims of the fire not to lose hope, charging them that they have the potential to rise up stronger from what had befallen them.