Goods worth millions of naira were destroyed when a popular market in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State caught fire on Monday.
The inferno engulfed Oja Tuntun market, known for selling of clothes and foodstuff and nobody could ascertain the cause of the fire which started around 2:00 am and destroyed over 20 shops.
The traders lamented the late arrival of men of the fire service and called for urgent rehabilitation and reconstruction of the shops.
Speaking on behalf of the market men and women, the Chairman of the market union, Abdulrasak Lasoju, condemned the long distance the firemen had to travel before arriving at the market.
He urged the state government to build a fire station in the market and also asked for urgent reconstruction of the burnt market as well as its upgrade to a modern one.
A representative of the Chairman of Ilorin West Local Government, Akeem Sulyman, who inspected the damage done by the inferno, expressed the determination of the council to start the reconstruction soon.
Mr Sulyman of the Supervisory Council on Finance, added that although the council was operating on a lean budget at the moment, they would ensure that they bring smiles to the faces of the traders.