Market men and women whose shops and business centers were burnt down in the fire incident that occured at Apata Market in Ibadan the Oyo State capital on Thursday night have called on the state government to come to their rescue in order to assist them to return to business.
some of the affected market men and Women were at the scene of the incidence on Saturday to access level of damage while some of them were picking and packing left overs and broken materials.
it will be recalled that a tanker conveying full load of diesel on Thursday t lost its break on motion and as a result rammed into some shops and houses where it exploded into flames, and destroyed goods and property worth millions of Naira
Speaking with news men on the development on Saturday evening , one of the affected traders, Mr Sunday Uwakwue, who sells provisions and beer in wholesales described the incidence as very tragic, painful and unfortunate.
According to him, heavy sound which occured as a result of the explosion made him ran from his house down to the scene of the development.
“I was not in the shop when it happened but the heavy sound of the explosion made me ran out where I saw flames in the market area.
“I don’t know where to start from because we had just invested huge amount of cash into the business in order to make more money in this Christmas.
Mr Uwakwue estimated the total loss of goods and products burnt in the inferno to the tune of N3 Million, just as he appealed to the state government to come to their aid.
Narrating their ordeal, miss Ifeoma daughter of Mr Sunday Uwakwue said she and her mother were outside their shop when the explosion rocked the market.
“We suddenly heard a terrible sound when the Diesel tanker fell inside the market and everybody ran for their dear lives. Nobody could wait to take anything because the raging fire was moving fast into other shops and building burning and destroying valuables.”
While counting his loss, Mr Alex Uwakwue, who said he started his business of assorted wines and hot drinks in wholesales in the market in 1989 said the development came as a rude shock to him adding that the development would definitely affect their living standard.
“When the explosion occured, area boys rushed to our stores and took away expensive wines and hot drinks. We initially thought that they came to assist us, not knowing that they came to vandalise our stores.
According to him, him and his wife just took M5 million load to boost their business in order to make Christmas business.
Others who spoke with Journalists who could not hold back their tears appealed to government and highly spirited people to assist them, just as they described the development as a monumental loss
Responding to the development, the Chairman, Oyo State Road Management Authority, (OYRTMA) Mogaji (Dr). Fagbemi Akintomide described the incidence as very unfortunate adding that the truck carrying diesel from Odo Ona area to Apata lost his brake and in the bid skidded of the road and rammed into shops and exploded.
According to him, immediately the information got to him, he put a call through to the fire service of the state for quick intervention and to save the situation.
Dr Akintomide while thanking the police and other security agencies for their intervention described the active collaboration of the agencies at the scene as a good development.
The OYRTMA boss who admonished owners of trucks and drivers to take safety as very important while embarking on their business said they should ensure that their trucks are in good condition before they embark on their business.
“I also want to admonish truck drivers to do away with hard drugs and alcohol while driving in order to fore stall likely accident and wanton destruction of lives and property.
“Although we thank God that no casualty was recorded at the scene of the explosion, to avert such disaster, we should all see safety as the business of all of us.”
While admonishing traders on the danger of street trading, Dr Akintomide advised traders to always observe the 10 meters backward law from the main road in order to maintain safety
He also warned on the imminent danger of keeping Petrol at home especially at this dry season, urging those who use to engage in such act to desist from it.
