Ekiti Governor Biodun Oyebanji has promised assistance to the merchants that lost goods in the Saturday fire that destroyed a portion of the Shasha market in Ikere-Ekiti.
When he went to the market on Monday, the governor made the vow.
Oyebanji, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs Monisade Afuye, also declared that his administration would restructure the market by erecting new buildings in place of some of the outdated ones.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a part of the market on Ado-Ikere road was completely destroyed by fire on Saturday, destroying items worth millions of naira.
The governor criticised the extent of the market's product destruction and urged traders around the state to exercise caution, particularly during the dry season, in order to prevent disaster.
The governor said that representatives from the Ministry of Trade and Investment would be in the market to gather data on the number of impacted vendors as well as other crucial details so that appropriate action could be made.
The governor stated that the road leading to the market from Ado-Ikere-Akure road would be graded to facilitate transit along the axis, in keeping with his campaign pledges.
“The governor sympathises with you on the losses you suffered, but let us be cautious in all our dealings this time because dry season is around now.
“We thank God that no life was lost. We can still make up for those things we have lost through personal efforts and government intervention. But if anyone had died, that would have been irreversible.
“Let us be careful. We never knew that the generating set that caused the incident would have any spark. But, thankful to God that the person who was responsible for the unfortunate incident has owned. He will, however, not be punished because it was not intentional.
“The government will surely give support, as the governor wants everybody plying his trade in Ekiti to be happy and prosperous, not minding where you came from.
“We will provide roads and other facilities that will guarantee safety and good life here. I also appeal to traders to cooperate with the leadership of the traders’ association in maintaining the facilities at the market.
“People shouldn’t resist payment of little rates to maintain the facilities because the government can’t do it alone; we need your support,” Afuye said.
Speaking, the Chairman of the traders’ association in the market, Alhaji Adamu Abdulhameed, said that the fire broke out around 4 p.m. from a generating set and spread to other adjoining shops, including a cold room.
“We tried our best to quench the fire. We were in the mosque when it started but it was beyond our control.
“The fire incident wouldn’t have been this severe if we had a fire service station within the market,” he said.
Similarly, the Iyaloja of the market, Mrs Feyisayo Ayajo, called for the establishment of a fire service station within the market for quick response to possible fire outbreaks. (NAN)