Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has promised official state support for traders affected by a destructive fire that swept through parts of Sabo Market in Ore, located within the Odigbo Local Government Area.
The fire, which broke out on August 12, decimated numerous shops and valuable merchandise, leaving local merchants with heavy financial losses.
During an on-the-spot inspection of the site on Tuesday, Aiyedatiwa extended his sympathies to the impacted shopkeepers.
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He expressed gratitude that no lives were lost during the blaze, despite the extensive property damage.
The governor praised the rapid response of the state’s firefighters and acknowledged the cooperation of local community members, noting that their combined efforts stopped the inferno from consuming a larger portion of the market.
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“I acknowledge and thank all our firefighters for their quick response to ensure that this fire did not escalate more than this,” Aiyedatiwa stated.
“A lot of valuables have been lost, but no life was lost. Our men responded with the support of the people in the neighbourhood to ensure that the fire was put out.”
To facilitate government aid, officials from the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency have surveyed the scene to compile a comprehensive record of the ruined property and identify every merchant impacted by the event.
The governor assured traders that relief measures would follow once the evaluation is finalised.
“The emergency agency of the state government has been here to take note and account of all that has been destroyed and those who are affected. They are doing their calculation; in due time, they will respond to support the people,” he added.
Addressing operational challenges encountered during the emergency, Aiyedatiwa pledged to solve local water supply issues that hindered the response efforts.
He committed to directing the Ministry of Water Resources, Hygiene, and Sanitation to assess the market and drill new boreholes to serve both emergency firefighting needs and general public use.
Additionally, the governor urged residents and shopkeepers to practice strict fire safety measures, such as turning off all electrical items before closing up or sleeping, and asked the Odigbo Local Government leadership to outline any further areas requiring state intervention.
Addressing the frequency of such disasters, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, announced that the state will conduct a full investigation into the underlying causes of the outbreak.
Takuro highlighted that this marks the third fire incident at Sabo Market in the span of two years, with the origins of the previous two blazes remaining unresolved.
“So, at this time, it is very important for us to dig to the roots of the causes of these problems so that we can be able to know what to do next,” Takuro remarked.
The Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Taiw Adegoroye, thanked the governor for making the trip to evaluate the damage personally.
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He emphasised the economic significance of Sabo Market, calling it a vital commercial hub that drives internally generated revenue for both the local government and the state.
Speaking on behalf of the affected merchants, the Iyaloja of Ore, Eniola Ogunlana, lamented the loss of livelihoods and appealed to the state government for swift financial and material assistance to help the community recover.
