Over 500 shops razed at Aleshinloye market — NEMA

THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-West zone, has said over shops were razed by the inferno at Alesinloye market, Ibadan, on Wednesday.

NEMA zonal coordinator, Kadiri Olanrewaju, in an on-the-spot assessment of the market, said despite the challenges faced, the responders, including the Oyo State Fire Service and their counterparts from private companies, SUMAL and SWEETCO, were able to prevent the fire from spreading to the other parts of the market. 

The initial assessment of the incident, according to Olanrewaju, put the recorded losses at hundreds of millions of naira.

He added that some of the affected traders took delivery of the plastic wares a day prior to the incident.

The NEMA zonal coordinator submitted that the inferno has disrupted economic activities at the market.

“No fatality was recorded, but several people sustained minor injuries, from smoke inhalation and shock while attempting to salvage their goods. However, over 500 shops and stalls were destroyed.

“Eyewitnesses informed that the fire started at the plastic merchants’ section before it spread to surrounding stalls due to the highly flammable nature of stored goods.

“Emergency response teams, included firefighters from the Oyo State Fire Service, private fire units from SWEETCO and SUMAL, market security personnel and local volunteers.

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“Efforts to control the fire were hampered by challenges such as the absence of 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.

“To mitigate the risk of future occurrences, NEMA recommends 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.

“Also, strengthening partnerships between the federal, state governments and private organisations to improve disaster response, supporting affected trader, providing emergency relief packages to help traders recover are of great importance,” Olanrewaju said.