Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Friday evening visited the Ibadan headquarters of Fresh FM, which was partially destroyed by fire, promising government support to ensure the station bounces back quickly.
The governor, who arrived at the station around 7.30pm, expressed sympathy to the founder of the station, Dr. Olayinka Ayefele, and the management team.
His visit was confirmed in a statement released on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju.
Makinde described the incident as a wake-up call on the state’s emergency response system, saying his administration would immediately hold talks with the leadership of the Oyo State Fire Service to improve their capacity and efficiency.
“What has happened here is a wake-up call for us as far as response time is concerned. If the Scout Camp fire station had been properly equipped, they could have intervened before the secretariat team arrived. I will be meeting with the chairman of the fire agency to see what can be done,” the governor said.
He appreciated God that no life was lost in the inferno and assured that Fresh FM would not remain off-air for long.
According to him, the station is vital to the flow of information in the state, and the government will do all it can to support its recovery.
Responding, Dr. Ayefele thanked Governor Makinde for his prompt visit, describing it as a sign of true leadership.
He also expressed appreciation to the fans of Fresh FM, first responders, and supporters both within and outside Nigeria, urging them to join in the rebuilding efforts.
Some of the affected facilities include the Fresh FM Studio, Blast FM Studio, the newsroom, transmitter room, the office of Blast FM’s General Manager, and that of Fresh FM’s Assistant General Manager.
