The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has promised to compensate shop owners at the Oba Lipede International Market, Kuto, Abeokuta, who lost valuables during Saturday night’s inferno.
Abiodun gave the assurance when he toured the market to ascertain the level of destruction caused by the fire incident on Tuesday
He said that enumeration would be carried out to determine the losses incurred by shop owners at the market to immediately provide succour to those affected and ensure that they can quickly come back on their feet.
The governor commended the state fire service for their timely intervention, which prevented the fire from extending to other parts of the market.
“A lot of our people have sustained losses; those that are selling fabrics, food items, those that are tailors, those that are selling dried food items, flours, banana, plantain, yam. But, thankfully, our fire service team responded on time. The emergency response system was activated.
“All hands are on deck. So, what we are going to do is to first enumerate the losses that have been incurred so we can provide a cushion to them. It is most unfortunate that this has happened at this time, the time when most of them are struggling. So, we feel their pains and identify with them, and I have told them they are not alone. I will not leave them alone.
“As a responsible government, we are going to step in and provide the needed support for them at this time so they can continue to do their businesses,” he said.
Abiodun said the government would study the report on why the fire started and look at how best to prevent future occurrences.
He added that he has directed the Bureau of Electrical Services to provide better illumination and lighting for the market built over 40 years ago.
The fire incident which reportedly started at about 10:15 pm on Saturday, was said to have been caused by the explosion of a generator being powered by gas and owned by a businessman in the market.
The Commissioner for Special Duties, Funmi Efuwape on Sunday, told newsmen that 15 shops were affected by the incident.
Efuwape said that the fire started from the illegal structures outside and erupted into the main building saying that the government would consider the demolition of shanties and illegal structures in the market to restore sanity and orderliness.