A massive fire tore through Aleshinloye Market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital late Tuesday night, March 11, 2025, at approximately 11:00 PM, consuming more than 500 shops and stalls. The blaze, which ignited in the Plastic Merchants section, spread rapidly due to the highly flammable materials stored in the area, leaving traders devastated and the local economy reeling.
Despite swift intervention by emergency response teams, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Oyo State Fire Service, and private fire units, efforts to contain the flames were hampered by inadequate firefighting equipment and insufficient water supply.
While no fatalities were recorded, several traders sustained minor injuries in the chaos. One of the most severely affected traders, Kudirat, reportedly lost over 30 shops and was rushed to the hospital along with other victims. Another victim, Alhaja T. Bello of TY Bello lost more than 10 shops. Goods worth hundreds of millions of naira were destroyed, causing severe financial distress among the affected business owners.
Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, representing the Oyo State Government, has assured affected traders of immediate relief support and vowed to investigate the cause of the fire. Plans are also underway to reinforce fire safety infrastructure in markets across the state to prevent similar catastrophes.
In response, NEMA has outlined key recommendations, including equipping market fire stations with necessary resources, implementing routine fire safety drills, establishing emergency response units, and providing relief packages and insurance schemes for traders.
This tragic incident underscores the urgent need for improved fire safety measures to protect businesses, livelihoods, and public spaces from future disasters.
