IBADAN, NIGERIA — Goods and household items worth millions of naira have been destroyed after a fire ravaged some shops at Gbaji market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The market is located along the Ibadan/Ife Expressway. The incident occurred on Thursday night.
Shops Affected
At least eight shops were affected by the inferno. The Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Hon. Maroof Akinwande, confirmed the incident.
Akinwande made this known in a statement on Friday morning. He said no life was lost in the incident.
Access Hindered
He explained that access to the affected area was hindered by illegal structures.
“Upon arrival, the crew met some shops engulfed in flames, with thick smoke billowing from the affected areas,” he said.
“No casualty was recorded. However, eight big shops were affected by the fire.”
“The timely intervention of the agency prevented the fire from spreading further. This averted more extensive damage to property.”
He added that access to the area was significantly hindered. Illegal structures and goods obstructed the access roads within the market. This made it difficult for firefighting trucks to gain free passage to the scene.
What This Means
The incident highlights the dangers of fire outbreaks in Nigerian markets. Many markets lack adequate fire safety equipment and access roads.
The obstruction of access roads by illegal structures is a recurring challenge for emergency responders. It can delay response times and lead to greater damage.
What Happens Next
The fire service will continue to monitor the situation. It has also urged traders to avoid obstructing access roads.
For now, the affected traders are counting their losses. They are calling for support from the government and well-meaning individuals.
