The Oyo State governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Bimbo Adekanmbi, has expressed concern over the recurring fire outbreaks in major markets across the state, promising to prioritise preventive measures to safeguard traders, businesses and livelihoods if elected governor.
Adekanmbi spoke against the backdrop of the recent fire outbreak at the popular Oranyan Market in Ibadan, which occurred only weeks after the devastating inferno at Bode Market, where several shops and businesses were destroyed.
The APM candidate said the frequency of market fires in the state had made it imperative for the government to develop a comprehensive and sustainable strategy to prevent such disasters and protect the investments of traders.
According to him, ensuring the safety of markets goes beyond responding to disasters after they occur, stressing the need for proactive measures that would reduce the risk of fire outbreaks and minimise their impact on traders and their families.
Adekanmbi stated this after supporting traders affected by the Oranyan Market fire by providing building materials for the immediate reconstruction of shops destroyed in the incident.
He said his intervention was motivated by genuine empathy for the victims and a desire to help them return to business as quickly as possible.
“I feel the pain of the traders because I understand what it means to lose one’s means of livelihood to fire. As a son of a market woman, I know the sacrifices traders make to build their businesses,” Adekanmbi said.
He explained that his background had given him a deeper understanding of the critical role markets play in the economic survival of families, as well as their contribution to the wider economy of the state.
Adekanmbi assured the affected traders of his continued support, saying the immediate priority was to assist them in rebuilding their shops and restoring their means of livelihood.
He added that, if elected governor, his administration would place greater emphasis on measures capable of preventing recurring market disasters, protecting traders’ investments and ensuring greater security for commercial activities across Oyo State.
The APM candidate maintained that traders should not be left to bear the consequences of repeated disasters alone, noting that government had a responsibility to create a safer and more resilient environment for businesses to thrive.
