Oyo Government Hands Over 88 Rebuilt Shops to Alesinloye Market Fire Victims
The Oyo State Government has handed over 88 newly reconstructed shops to traders affected by the fire outbreak at Alesinloye Market in Ibadan.
The handover ceremony took place on Wednesday, with the Executive Chairman of Ibadan South-West Local Government, Kehinde Akande, presenting the shops on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde.
Akande said the reconstruction fulfilled the governor’s promise to restore the businesses of traders who lost their shops and goods in the fire incident.
The fire, which occurred in the early hours of March 11, 2026, affected the plastic and rubber section of the market, destroying several shops and goods worth millions of naira.
Speaking during the ceremony, Akande recalled that the governor had visited the market shortly after the incident and assured the victims that the damaged shops would be rebuilt and returned to them at no cost.
He described the handover as a significant step towards restoring the livelihoods of the affected traders.
According to him, the reconstructed section has been better organised, with improved access roads to enhance safety and movement within the market.
Akande also announced additional measures to prevent future fire outbreaks, including the reconstruction of the market’s fire station and the permanent deployment of local government safety officers to monitor compliance with safety regulations.
He further disclosed that the state government had earlier provided ₦250,000 to each affected trader as immediate financial assistance to cushion the impact of their losses.
A former member of the House of Representatives, Saheed Akinade-Fijabi, commended the governor for fulfilling his promise and urged the beneficiaries to maintain the reconstructed facilities.
He explained that the 88 shops were allocated in line with the number of traders on the verified list compiled following the fire outbreak.
Speaking on behalf of the traders, Taiwo Sekinat Bisola, who represented the market’s Babaloja, expressed appreciation to the state government, describing the intervention as a major relief for affected traders.
She said the reconstruction had helped restore the traders’ means of livelihood and encouraged beneficiaries to maintain the shops and adhere to safety regulations.