Fresh FM, Ibadan, a prominent radio broadcasting station owned by gospel musician Yinka Ayefele, was engulfed in a significant fire incident on Friday night. The blaze occurred at the station’s premises in Felele, located within the Ibadan South-West Local Government Area of Oyo State. The alarm was initially raised by media personality Samuel Arugboboisi via social media, urgently calling for fire service intervention. A staff member, speaking anonymously, also confirmed the severity of the situation, highlighting the immediate efforts to contact firefighters.

While the exact cause of the fire and the full extent of the damage, along with potential casualties, could not be immediately determined, officials from the Oyo State Fire Service quickly responded. Rev. Akinyemi Akinyinka, the General Manager, assured that firefighters were on the ground and the situation was under control, a statement echoed by the chairman, Maroof Akinwande. The station’s management later confirmed that the fire extensively damaged the head office, including the studios of Fresh 105.9 FM and Blast 98.3 FM, as well as various offices, the newsroom, and the transmitter/server room, leading to property losses worth millions of naira. Early attempts by residents to extinguish the fire proved unsuccessful before the professional responders arrived.

Fresh FM, which commenced operations in 2015 after receiving its licence on April 30 of the same year, is recognized as one of the most listened-to stations in Ibadan. It has built a strong reputation for its engaging talk shows, vibrant music programming, and interactive audience segments. The station has since expanded its reach, establishing branches in Abeokuta, Ado-Ekiti, Akure, Osogbo, and Lagos.

In a gesture of commiseration and support following the devastating incident, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde gifted a new Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) to Yinka Ayefele. The presentation took place on Tuesday at the Music House, Challenge, Ibadan, with Ademola Ojo, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, presenting the vehicle on behalf of the governor. Other notable officials present included Wasiu Olatunbosun, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism; Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor; and Bose Sodiq, Senior Special Assistant on Broadcast Media. Governor Makinde emphasized that the gesture was a form of solidarity, acknowledging Ayefele as a symbol of perseverance and inspiration to millions of Nigerians. Ayefele, who serves as the chairman of Fresh FM Nigeria, expressed profound gratitude to the governor, describing the support as truly encouraging. Governor Makinde had previously visited the fire scene on Saturday to sympathize with Ayefele and personally assess the damage.