Gov Okpebholo Vows to Rebuild Oluku Market, Support Fire Victims

By Rosemary Okoduwa

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has pledged to rebuild Oluku Market, destroyed by fire, and provide support to traders who lost their shops and goods in the disaster, assuring them that his administration would not abandon them in their moment of distress.

The governor gave the assurance on Friday during an on-the-spot assessment of the damage at the market, located along the Benin-Lagos Road in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State. He expressed sadness over the incident, describing it as a tragedy that could have been avoided if proper safety precautions had been observed.

Okpebholo disclosed that Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, had expressed sympathy with the victims and the families of those who lost their lives. “I spoke to the First Lady this morning, and she expressed her sadness over what happened yesterday,” he said, assuring the affected traders of the government’s commitment to helping them recover from their losses.

The governor urged residents to desist from scooping petrol at accident scenes, warning that such actions could turn an already dangerous situation into a fatal disaster. He lamented that despite sustained public enlightenment campaigns by the state and federal governments, some people continued to expose themselves to avoidable risks by rushing to collect fuel from fallen tankers.

He also criticised the alleged failure of the affected tanker’s owner to observe necessary safety precautions while attempting to transfer the fuel to another tanker. According to him, the decision to bring another tanker to evacuate the fuel without adequate safety measures contributed to the disaster. He urged residents to prioritise their safety and heed warnings at accident scenes to prevent further loss of lives.

As part of his visit, the governor proceeded to the burns and plastic ward of the Accident and Emergency Department of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where some victims were receiving treatment. Addressing their parents, he reiterated the dangers of scooping fuel and stressed the importance of adhering to safety warnings.

The UBTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, conducted the governor and his entourage, including his Deputy, Dennis Idahosa, former Edo State governor and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and Senator Matthew Urhoghide, around the hospital facilities.

Earlier, the market secretary, Blessing Itoje, appealed to the governor for urgent assistance, explaining that the traders could not salvage any of their goods before the fire consumed their shops and wares. She said some of the traders were widows struggling to provide for their families, while others were servicing loans taken to sustain their businesses. Itoje added that some victims had been hospitalised following the incident, with some reportedly requiring oxygen support, and pleaded for government intervention to help them rebuild their lives.

Another trader, Julie Ologbosere, also appealed for assistance, lamenting that the affected traders had been left with nothing after losing their sources of livelihood to the fire.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to rebuilding the market and supporting the victims, offering hope to traders whose businesses and means of survival had been destroyed by the disaster.