Minister Solicits Support for Victims of Oyo’s Akesan Market Fire

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, has sought for humanitarian support from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for victims of the Akesan Market Fire outbreak in Oyo State.

The Minister on Monday wrote the Director-General of NEMA to seek assistance for those affected by the fire disaster. In the letter of appeal, the minister, who is an indigene of Oyo state, noted that many people had been rendered incapacitated as their main sources of livelihood were wiped away as a result of the tragic fire incident.

“In the wake of the tragic incident, many people have been rendered indigent because of the losses they suffered from the fire that wiped out their source of livelihood, businesses, investment and life savings. This has created a humanitarian situation for those affected by the fire as they are no longer able to cater to basic daily needs.

“It is important that these affected persons immediately receive relief materials to ease further human suffering, while they go about rebuilding their ruined businesses and get back on their feet.

It is on this note that I make a passionate appeal and request to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), as the Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Oyo state, for relief materials to be made available and distributed to the persons and families that that have been impacted by the fire in Akesan Market, Oyo town, Oyo state” the minister added.

It would be recalled that an early Sunday morning fire razed a large expanse of the ancient Akesan Market.

It was gathered that those who have shops in the market were said to have rushed to the scene, but the fire was so severe that they could not salvage anything from the market.