The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that no fewer than 500 shops were affected by the fire that ravaged Aleshinloye Market in Ibadan.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by NEMA’s Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Kadiri Olanrewaju, the inferno lasted several hours between Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving many traders in distress.
“Over 500 shops and stalls were destroyed. Initial assessments estimate financial losses in the hundreds of millions of naira,” Olanrewaju stated.
He noted that many traders had recently restocked their businesses, further worsening their financial burden.
While no fatalities were recorded, at least three traders sustained varying degrees of injuries and have been hospitalised. Others suffered from smoke inhalation and shock while attempting to salvage their goods.
Olanrewaju added that the fire has severely disrupted economic activities in the market, affecting both traders and supply chains.
Authorities are yet to determine the cause of the fire, but investigations are ongoing.
