Ibadan South West Local Government Chairman, Hon. Kehinde Akande, visited the Bode Market fire scene on Friday. He sympathised with affected herbs sellers and other traders, and assured them of government intervention.
The fire broke out in the early hours of Friday. It razed several makeshift shops in the herbs section, destroying medicinal plants, barks, roots, and other traditional wares worth millions of naira.
During an on-the-spot assessment, Hon. Akande described the incident as “painful and unfortunate.” He noted that many victims are small-scale business owners whose livelihoods depend solely on the market.
“This is a devastating loss for our mothers and fathers who have built their businesses here over the years. Government feels your pain,” Akande said. He added, “On behalf of Ibadan South West Local Government, I sympathise with all the herbs sellers affected. We will not abandon you.”
The Chairman was received by market leaders and traders’ associations. He toured the burnt sections alongside officials from the Oyo State Fire Service to assess the extent of damage.
Akande disclosed that the council will work with the state government and relevant agencies to prevent a recurrence. He said the government will also review support for victims.
“We will engage other stakeholders to ensure you get support quickly. We are also looking at fire safety measures, access routes, and better market infrastructure so this does not repeat itself,” he stated.
Some affected traders expressed gratitude for the visit. Mrs. Alake Adepoju, a herbs seller for over 20 years, said: “We thank Hon. Akande for coming to see us. We are praying that government will help us start again.” Hon. Akande, accompanied by his Chief of Staff Alhaji Hasan Bello, Hon. Waris Adetunji, and security personnel, urged traders to cooperate with damage assessment officials and observe fire safety precautions while investigations
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