A devastating fire outbreak has razed many shops at Gbaremu Market, Ijokodo, Ibadan, resulting in loss of tens of millions of naira in damage as equipment, goods, and personal belongings were reduced to ashes in the aftermath of the inferno.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hon. (Mrs) Toyin Balogun who visited the site of the incident yesterday stated that
the ministry will soon implement practical training focused on Prevention & Handling of Fire Outbreaks for both Markets and Homes within the state.
This initiative is informed by the preponderance and frequency of fire outbreaks,with an urgent imperative to mitigate or reduce drastically the attendant economic and financial losses valued in the tens of millions which usually accompany such fire outbreaks particularly with the concomitant losses of sources of livelihoods and its implications which affect the victims directly and then indirectly affects their dependants thus increasing the Poverty Index in the state.
All the shops involved were razed to rubble with millions in equipment, goods and personal belongings burnt to ashes.
The government of Governor Seyi Makinde is mindful of the fact that each of the shop owners affected represents a family unit and each shop owner is also responsible for the welfare of several dependants, so the extent of the devastation actually transcends the number of shops affected.
The Commissioner noted that several markets in the state including the Sango market within the same Ibadan North local government and many other markets had experienced devastating fire outbreaks in recent times.
She emphasised that each affected shop owner whose sources of livelihoods have been taken away by the fire incident represents a family unit, highlighting the broader impact and implications of the disaster on their dependents.
In recognition of the critical contributions of the commercial activities from our markets to the economy of the state and in order to support both the direct victims ( many of whom are women) and the indirect victims; the dependants of the shop owners who are mostly the vulnerable in society that is women,children, elderly and physically challenged to get back on their feet,the Oyo State Government led by Governor Seyi Makinde, will provide some assistance in the form of Livelihood Support Grants to the victims through the Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Inclusion in line with the Ministry’s mandate with respect to Poverty Alleviation the Commissioner stated.
After the meeting with the Gbaremu Market Executive Committee members Hon(Mrs) Balogun urged them to submit details of the victims of the inferno by the end of the week on the outside to enable the Ministry do the needful.
She further informed them that the details submitted will be verified to ensure the actual victims benefit from the Oyo State Government’s intervention and so implored the Executive to ensure sincerity of purpose in their submissions.
The Honorable Commissioner visited the market with her team including the Director of Poverty Alleviation and other requisite ministry officials in tow.
