An early Monday morning fire has destroyed several shops at the popular Oranya Market in Ibadan North-East Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The fire, which reportedly started around midnight, affected traders dealing in gold, furniture, second-hand clothes and other goods.

A trader identified as Iya Alia said nearly 300 shops were affected by the inferno.

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“The fire started around midnight. I cannot be specific about that time. And those affected were gold sellers, furniture sellers, second-hand clothes sellers and many others. The shops affected were almost 300.”

Another eyewitness described the incident as devastating, saying close to 300 shops were destroyed.

Confirming the incident, the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Reforms and State Chairman of Fire Services, Morof Akinwande, said the fire started in the middle of the market following an explosion.

He, however, said the exact number of shops destroyed could not yet be established.
“Yes, it occurred. That number we cannot ascertain, but what is known is that some shops were destroyed and the fire incident started in the middle of the market with an explosion.”

Akinwande said it was too early to determine whether the explosion was caused by gas or another source, adding that the situation had been brought under control since about 1am.

“Whether it’s a gas explosion or other things. And when you have a gas explosion, it would spread, but as I am talking to you, the situation has been under control since 1 am.”

He explained that determining the number of affected shops and the value of goods lost would require a post-fire investigation.

“On the number of shops and inventory, that is too early because that’s post-fire outbreak investigation. So, I cannot be accurate about the number of shops that were destroyed. But shops were actually gone.”

The incident comes barely two days after another fire outbreak destroyed nine locked-up shops at the Nigerian Railway shopping complex along the popular Aleshinloye Market in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area.

The August 22 fire reportedly destroyed goods, household items and other properties worth millions of naira.

One of the affected traders, Busari Olayemi, said products worth about ₦21 million were destroyed, including window blinds, curtain fabrics, industrial sewing machines and other equipment.

Oranya Market also witnessed a major fire outbreak in 2024, when more than 200 shops in the herbal section were reportedly completely destroyed.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has condemned the recent killings and abductions in parts of the North-Central region, warning the Federal Government that Nigeria must not become a “killing field.”

Obi made the call in a statement posted on his X handle on Sunday, following recent attacks in Benue, Plateau and Niger states.

He described the situation as a national security emergency and urged governments at all levels to take urgent and decisive action to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further bloodshed.

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“What is happening to our country? In recent days, deadly attacks have struck Benue, Plateau and Niger States, three contiguous states in Nigeria’s North-Central region.

“In Mangu, Plateau State, at least 23 people were officially reported killed in the Jwak Maitumbi attack, while residents put the toll above 30. More than 45 houses were reportedly destroyed.

“In Borgu, Niger State, recent attacks reportedly killed over 40 people and abducted more than 100, though the figures remain contested. This comes amid continuing violence in Benue, where communities face repeated killings, abductions and the destruction of homes and livelihoods.”

Obi said the attacks were particularly disturbing because Nigeria was not officially at war, yet citizens were being attacked in their communities.

“Nigeria is not officially at war, yet citizens are being attacked in their villages, abducted after prayers, driven from their homes and stripped of their farms,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor argued that the violence in Benue, Plateau and Niger should no longer be treated as isolated incidents, noting that similar attacks were occurring in other parts of the country.

He called on governments at all levels to strengthen security measures, improve intelligence gathering and rapid-response capabilities, rescue abducted Nigerians and arrest and prosecute those responsible.

“I urge governments at all levels to wake up to their responsibility and take urgent and decisive action to end this madness once and for all,” he said.

“Government must protect vulnerable communities, improve intelligence and rapid-response capabilities, rescue abducted Nigerians, and arrest and prosecute those responsible.”

Obi further stressed that the government should focus on preventing attacks rather than responding only after lives had been lost.

“We cannot keep counting bodies after every attack. We must prevent these attacks before they happen.

“Protecting lives and property is the most basic duty of government. Nigerians deserve nothing less. Nigeria must not become a killing field.”

The Kaduna State Government has disclosed that it has cleared about N18bn out of the pension and gratuity arrears inherited by the administration of Governor Uba Sani.

The state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, disclosed this in an exclusive interview on Saturday, attributing the development to increased allocations from the Federation Account under President Bola Tinubu.

Maiyaki said the additional resources had enabled the state government to intensify infrastructure development while increasing funding for agriculture, education, healthcare, transportation, security and youth employment.

According to him, the Uba Sani administration inherited about N24bn in outstanding pension and gratuity liabilities, alongside foreign and domestic debts.

He said, “When the governor assumed office, we inherited a backlog of debts, both foreign and domestic, which would have made it very difficult for the state to even pay salaries.”

The commissioner also disclosed that 115 road projects were ongoing across the 23 local government areas of the state, with more than half completed and covering over 1,400 kilometres of roads.

“Before now, 12 local government areas in Kaduna State had not seen even half a kilometre of road projects. But today, with the infrastructural development taking place in Kaduna State, 115 road projects are ongoing across the state,” he said.

Maiyaki explained that the road projects were designed to improve transportation, connect farmers and rural communities to markets, facilitate access to healthcare and strengthen security.

He cited a 35-kilometre road linking about 76 communities as one of the projects with significant socio-economic impact.

“We have a 35-kilometre road that has connected about 76 communities, particularly farming communities. This is one significant project that has helped provide farmers with access to markets and their farms,” Maiyaki stated.

Agriculture funding rises to N100bn
The commissioner said agriculture had received one of the biggest boosts from the increased revenue available to the state, noting that the sector contributes about 42 per cent of Kaduna’s Gross Domestic Product and provides approximately 60 per cent of employment.

He disclosed that the state’s agricultural budget rose from N1.4bn in 2023 to more than N100bn in 2026.

“This represents an increase in agricultural funding from 0.4 per cent to 11.6 per cent over the last three years,” he said.

According to Maiyaki, the increased funding had enabled the government to provide fertiliser and other inputs to smallholder farmers, as well as invest in irrigation, mechanised agriculture and extension services.

He said the state distributed 400 trucks of NPK and urea fertiliser to farmers in 2024 and another 500 trucks in 2025, while 150,000 smallholder farmers are being targeted for fertiliser distribution in 2026.

“Today, Kaduna State is the highest producer of maize, the highest producer of tomatoes, the second-highest producer of soybeans, and the highest producer of ginger in the country,” Maiyaki said.

Kaduna allocates N264bn to education
On education, Maiyaki said the state had sustained increased funding, keeping its allocation above the 25 per cent benchmark recommended by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

He disclosed that more than N264bn was allocated to the sector in the 2026 budget.
The commissioner said the funds had been used to construct and renovate classrooms, recruit teachers and improve infrastructure in tertiary institutions.

“Over 75 secondary schools, including junior and senior secondary schools, have been constructed, while thousands of classrooms have been renovated,” he said.

He added that the investments had contributed to a reduction in the estimated number of out-of-school children in the state from about 550,000 in 2023 to approximately 187,000 in 2026.

CNG buses save residents N4bn
Maiyaki further disclosed that the state government had deployed 100 compressed natural gas buses to provide free transportation for civil servants, students, traders, artisans and other residents.

He said the buses had transported about four million passengers in one year, saving beneficiaries an estimated N4bn.

“Over the last one year, the introduction of the CNG buses has transported about four million people, saving them about N4bn at no cost to our people,” he stated.
Kaduna records no religious conflict in three years

On security, the commissioner attributed improved security and freedom of movement across the state to the combination of road construction, social interventions and the Kaduna Peace Model.

Maiyaki claimed that the state had not recorded a religious conflict in the three years since the Uba Sani administration assumed office.

“One of the key outcomes of our investment in peace and security is that, over the last three years since the assumption of office of His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State, we have not witnessed a single religious conflict in Kaduna State,” he said.