Makinde inspects Apata fire razed area, assures govt immediate support

Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde on Friday visited the scene of the fire incident that razed some shops in Apata market, Ibadan, on Thursday. 

Makinde assured the victims and a crowd of sympathizers that the state government would offer immediate assistance. 

He was represented by the deputy governor, Barrister Abdul-raheem Adebayo Lawal, who was also accompanied by the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Abiodun Oni and other government officials. 

He expressed sympathy to the inferno victims and pledged to investigate the incident’s causes, noting that the government was devastated by the situation because it was out of human control.

Lawal, who described the incident as unfortunate and heartbreaking, added that Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (OYSEMA) is always in charge of situations like this and that the government needs to know how many shops were affected in order to be able to address their losses. 

He said: “As a government, we are profoundly saddened by the circumstance. And we know that since we have no control over it, there is nothing we can do. 

“God will give you the strength to endure the loss, those who have lost their properties. I’m here to assess the issue and determine what the government should do. 

“We are aware that nothing we can do will be able to compensate for your losses, but I can guarantee you that we will take the necessary action. We want you to know that we are here to support everyone who is impacted. 

Lawal, who disclosed that the governor would have been present but wasn’t around, added that they can’t ignore them at the same time.

He urged them to quickly address a letter to the office of the deputy govebror to know those affected by the inferno for government to do the needful. 

Lawal prayed that such incident wouldn’t happen again and added that the government would also look at the tanker driver’s insurance.