Another devastating fire has hit Oyo State’s broadcast industry, as the campus radio station of Ajayi Crowther University in Oyo went up in flames on Monday morning, destroying equipment and properties worth millions of naira.
According to eyewitnesses, the blaze, which broke out around 11:55 a.m., was triggered by an electrical surge from the studio’s air-conditioning system. Within minutes, thick smoke and raging flames engulfed the facility, sparking panic among staff and students within the university premises.
The Oyo State Fire Service, led by PFS II Makinde, responded swiftly to distress calls and managed to restrict the inferno before it spread to adjoining structures. “We arrived to find the studio already engulfed, but our men acted promptly and curtailed the fire,” said the agency’s chairman, Hon. Maroof Akinwande. “Thankfully, no lives were lost, and properties worth millions were salvaged.”
The incident comes barely days after another fire outbreak at Fresh 105.9 FM Ibadan, owned by popular gospel singer Yinka Ayefele, raising fresh concerns about the vulnerability of broadcast facilities in the state. Media stakeholders are already calling for an urgent safety audit across radio and television stations to prevent a repeat of such costly disasters.
While no casualty was recorded at Ajayi Crowther University’s station, the loss of essential broadcasting equipment has disrupted transmission, leaving students and the university community without one of their key communication platforms. Repairs and replacement costs are expected to run into tens of millions.
Hon. Akinwande used the opportunity to remind the public of the importance of preventive safety measures. He urged institutions and private businesses to install and properly maintain fire extinguishers, while also ensuring that electrical appliances are regularly serviced to avoid similar tragedies.
The double tragedy within a single week has sparked conversations on social media, with many Nigerians questioning whether authorities and media operators are doing enough to secure facilities against preventable electrical hazards. The Oyo State Fire Service has promised to release a detailed investigative report in the coming days.
