At least 10 shops have been razed down by a fire in the Lafenwa Market in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
A witness, Muinatu Akinfenwa, the Iyaloja of the Lafenwa Market, said the fire originated from a dump site behind the shops.
Muinatu, who lamented the improper disposal of refuse behind the market, commended the swift response of the DPO of Lafenwa, the local government chairman and various agencies, including the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Amotekun, TRACE and market women, who collaborated to combat the fire.
The state’s Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, who visited the scene on behalf of the governor to commiserate with the affected market women, expressed the governor’s sadness over the incident and pledged a swift government intervention.
Oresanya emphasised the dangers of indiscriminate refuse burning during harmattan, declaring the said dumpsite illegal.
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He assured that the state government, in collaboration with local authorities, would construct additional stalls to discourage roadside displays.