Oyo Government fulfils reconstruction promise, provides ₦250,000 relief to each affected trader and announces measures to prevent future fire outbreaks.
The Oyo State Government has handed over 88 newly reconstructed shops to traders affected by the fire outbreak at Alesinloye Market in Ibadan.
The Executive Chairman of Ibadan South-West Local Government, Kehinde Akande, performed the handover on Wednesday on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde, describing the exercise as the fulfilment of a promise made by the governor during his visit to the market after the incident.
The fire, which occurred in the plastic and rubber section of the market on March 11, 2026, destroyed several shops and goods worth millions of naira. Akande said the government had pledged to rebuild the affected shops and return them to the victims at no cost.
In a statement issued by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, Akande described the handover as a significant milestone for the market community. He added that the reconstructed section had been better organised, with improved access roads to make the shops safer and easier to navigate.
The local government chairman also announced plans to rebuild the market’s fire station and permanently deploy safety officers to monitor compliance with safety regulations and prevent a recurrence.
He disclosed that the state government had earlier paid each affected trader ₦250,000 as immediate relief to cushion the impact of the losses.
Former House of Representatives member, Saheed Akinade-Fijabi, commended the governor for fulfilling his promise and urged the beneficiaries to maintain the facilities. He noted that the 88 reconstructed shops corresponded with the number of traders on the verified list compiled after the incident.
Speaking on behalf of the traders, Taiwo Sekinat Bisola, who represented the Babaloja of Alesinloye Market, thanked the state government, describing the intervention as a major relief that had restored the affected traders’ means of livelihood. She also urged beneficiaries to maintain the shops and observe safety measures.