The management of Fresh FM Nigeria has yet to disclose when or how soon the popular Ibadan-based radio station will return to transmission following a devastating fire that razed its head office at Challenge, Ibadan, on Friday evening.
The inferno, which broke out on August 15, 2025, completely destroyed the studios of Fresh 105.9 FM and its sister station, Blast 98.3 FM, as well as the newsroom, transmitter/server room, and other vital broadcast equipment.
Despite swift intervention from residents, passersby, and the Oyo State Fire Service, the fire caused extensive damage, forcing the station off-air.
In an official statement signed by Samson Akindele, Group Head of Corporate Affairs at Fresh FM Nigeria and Yinka Ayefele Limited, the management confirmed the incident but provided no clear timeline for resumption of transmission.
The statement noted that the extent of the damage was yet to be quantified and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
“All efforts to fight the fire, before the arrival of the professional fire fighters, with our in-house fire extinguishers proved abortive because of the strength of the inferno,” the statement read.
While expressing appreciation to residents of the area, first responders, and fire officials for their swift support during the emergency, the station left unanswered questions about how soon it could bounce back on air.
The silence has left thousands of Fresh FM’s loyal listeners, both in Oyo State and across the Southwest, in uncertainty, given the station’s reputation as a household name in broadcasting, founded by veteran gospel singer, Dr. Yinka Ayefele.
As of press time, the popular broadcaster remains off the airwaves, with no official update on recovery or interim broadcasting timeline.