A late-night fire on Saturday razed 10 shops and destroyed goods worth millions of naira at the Oba Lipede Market in Kuto, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The blaze, which began around 10:15 pm, was reportedly triggered by a gas-powered generator explosion owned by a market businessman.
Ogun State Fire Service Director Fatai Adefala confirmed the incident, stating that firefighters were alerted immediately and rushed to the scene.
“There was a fire incident at the market on Saturday night. We were contacted at about 22:15 and we quickly raced down to bring the situation under control.
“Ten shops were affected and the fire affected some goods inside these shops,” Adefala said.
He explained that the fire started due to a power surge in the gas-powered generator used by a businessman involved in palm kernel shaft extraction.
“Fortunately, no lives were lost, though one person sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital.
“Among the destroyed goods were foodstuffs such as rice and beans, and household items like pots.”
Basiru and Tolani Moses, a couple who lost two shops in the fire, revealed that N500,000 cash kept for bank deposit and goods worth over N1.5 million were consumed by the flames.
High-ranking officials, including the Commissioner for Special Duties, Funmi Efuwape, and the Director of the State Emergency Management Agency, Wale Sonde, visited the site on Sunday to assess the damage.
Efuwape noted that the fire was exacerbated by shanties outside the main market building and announced plans for their demolition to prevent future incidents.
“The fire outbreak was just because of these shanties erected outside the main market building,” Efuwape said.
“Now that they (traders) have seen it for themselves, I am sure when the government comes in and tells them that all these shanties must go, they will definitely agree with us that they have to go. About 10 shops were affected outside and five inside.
“The five would not have been affected if the ones outside were not there. The fire started from the illegal structures outside and erupted to the main building.”
She confirmed that the main market building would undergo an integrity test to ensure its safety, and plans for market renovation would be implemented.
SEMA Director Wale Sonde mentioned that officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) would visit on Monday to evaluate the damage and determine assistance for the victims.
He acknowledged the “physical, economic, and psychological damages” caused by the fire.
Market leader Mrs Tejumade Bakre lamented that looting occurred shortly after the fire, but security agents intervened and chased away the miscreants.
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