Akeredolu visits burnt shops, assures traders of security

Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Wednesday inspected some burnt shops in Akure metropolis where he assured traders of adequate security of lives and properties.

Our correspondent reports that a fire had last week destroyed goods and properties worth millions of naira in the shops located close to the palace of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi.

Akeredolu, who sued for calm, assured the traders of assistance after a verification exercise of the damage.

“We will cart away the debris and start the verification. We will also source for funds to assist the traders,” he said.

The governor further gave an assurance that government would tackle the challenges facing the state Fire Service in order to enable it respond promptly to incidents.

Aladelusi, in his remarks, urged the traders to be patient and place their trust in God.

He assured them that government was committed to offering assistance to those affected.

Aladetoyinbo also said that the court building close to the palace would be made available for the temporary use of the traders.

A spokesman for the traders, Mr Bakare Olabisi, said the inferno had rendered more than 300 traders jobless.

He pleaded with the state government to render prompt assistance to the victims while providing another location to begin their businesses.