A late-night inferno swept through the renowned Challenge Phone Village in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, destroying several businesses and reigniting tensions over a controversial government project.
The blaze, which erupted around 9:06 PM, tore through parts of the bustling mobile phone and gadget market—home to over 120 shops and 80 kiosks—before being contained by the swift intervention of the Kwara State Fire Service. Preliminary investigations point to a power surge as the likely cause.
According to a statement by Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, Head of Media and Publicity for the Director of the Fire Service, emergency responders arrived promptly at the scene, where they met several shops already engulfed in flames.
> “Through swift intervention, professionalism, and tactical expertise, our team successfully curtailed the spread of the fire, limiting its impact significantly to just 10 kiosks,” the statement read.
Director of the Fire Service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, extended heartfelt sympathy to affected traders, praying that their losses would be “divinely restored in multiple folds.”
While the firefighting effort was commendable, emerging reports reveal that the newly constructed perimeter fence—erected by the Kwara State Government as part of a controversial urban redevelopment project—significantly hampered emergency access to the market.
> “The fire service had difficulty accessing the area due to the fence the state government mounted. This same fence had previously triggered protests by traders. There was a lack of proper access routes,” a source told SaharaReporters.
Just weeks ago, the fencing project—initiated by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq—sparked widespread protests among traders and small business owners. They accused the state government of prioritizing aesthetics over economic survival, claiming the barrier blocked access to shops and reduced foot traffic, thereby crippling their businesses.
> “The fence has turned our thriving commercial hub into a ghost town,” one protesting trader lamented. “Customers can’t reach us, and now, not even fire trucks could.”
Traders who had returned to their shops the morning after the fire found charred remains of phones, accessories, and repair equipment worth millions. While thankful the damage wasn’t more extensive, many fear the worst is yet to come if the access problem persists.
The Kwara State Fire Service has since reiterated the importance of immediate emergency reporting and shared its hotlines: 08030419316, 112, or 08025896740.
As investigations continue, calls are mounting for the government to re-evaluate the fencing initiative and establish emergency access protocols to avert future disasters. Traders also demand open dialogue with state authorities and a comprehensive review of the project’s goals and impact.
Whether the tragedy at Challenge Phone Village becomes a turning point or a forgotten chapter will depend on how decisively the government responds—not just with sympathy, but with meaningful action.
PIONEER NEWS 