PHOTOS: Oyo Commissioner, Toyin Balogun Visits Aleshinloye Market After Devastating Fire, Promises Government Support*

In line with the broad mandate of her ministry,the Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Inclusion which also encompasses responsibility for Poverty Alleviation and Social Welfare for citizens of the state from all strata of our society,the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion in Oyo State, Hon. (Mrs.) Toyin Balogun, led a delegation to assess the damage caused by a dastardly fire outbreak that ravaged the Aleshinloye Market overnight.

Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of her ministry, Dr. Ibitoye; Director of Women Programs, Mr. Ogunjimi; the wife of the Babaloja General of Oyo State, Alhaja Shakirat Y.K. Abass; her Chief of Staff, Hon. Romoke Kareem; and the Women Coordinator for the South West Local Government, Alhaja Akorede, the Commissioner expressed deep concern over the havoc and extensive destruction wreaked by the inferno overnight
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The fire, which spread rapidly through the market, destroyed at the very least,about 200 shops,with unconfirmed reports alleging that almost 600 shops were razed leading to losses worth hundreds of millions of naira. Traders watched helplessly as their sources of livelihoods from which they had hitherto supported numerous dependants and fulfilled their obligations to govt went up in flames, with goods and properties reduced to rubble

Speaking at the heartbreaking scene,where some of the shops still had fires burning in the rubble,and where some of the victims have lost 7 and 20 shops each with goods worth hundreds of millions1 Hon. Balogun emphasized the commitment of the Governor Seyi Makinde led government to supporting affected traders to ensure they recover from the tragedy and to enable them get back on their feet and back to productivity

She thanked the Almighty because no single life was lost though the monetary value of goods lost ranges in the hundreds of millions with one of the victimswailing that she had just lost N9million worth of plastic goods supplied to her warehouse just yesterday night

“Just like the Governor Makinde led government supported other markets who were victims of market infernos through the Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Inclusion recently,our empathetic, listening Governor will do the needful in the shortest possible time by availing support for the victims to enable them to get back on their feet,” she assured.

She further commiserated with the traders and market leaders, pledging that the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion would also collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure the needful in all ramifications is done to bring succour to our people under these challenging circumstances.