Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has assured Fresh FM Ibadan of government backing after a fire destroyed parts of the station’s headquarters on Friday.
Makinde, who visited the station around 7.30pm, sympathised with its chairman, Dr Olayinka Ayefele, and the management. His visit was confirmed in a statement by his media aide, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, on Saturday.
Speaking at the scene, the governor described the incident as a reminder of the need to improve emergency response in the state. He said, “What has happened here is a wake-up call for us as far as response time is concerned. I believe if we had taken Oyo State Fire Agency to the level that we want it to be, this damage would not have been to this extent.”
Makinde noted that the fire station at Scout Camp should have been equipped enough to respond before the firefighters at the state secretariat arrived. He promised to meet with the leadership of the fire service to strengthen their operations.
He also gave his assurance that the government would help the station return on air quickly. “To the chairman and management of Fresh FM, I want to encourage you all. First, if you have this kind of situation, we have to be thankful to God that we didn’t lose any life. In terms of moving forward, I believe the state government and I will give support to them. They are very vital to informing our people. We won’t let the station close for an extended period of time,” Makinde said.
In his reaction, Ayefele thanked the governor, noting that his quick visit showed he is a caring leader. He also expressed gratitude to fans of the station, first responders, and supporters within and outside Nigeria. He urged everyone to join hands with him in rebuilding the station.
Areas affected by the fire include the Fresh FM studio, Blast FM studio, newsroom, transmitter room, offices of the Blast FM General Manager, and Fresh FM’s Assistant General Manager.
