Okpebholo vows to rebuild burnt Oluku market, support victims

Gov. Monday Okpebholo of Edo has pledged to rebuild the  Oluku Market, which was destroyed by fire on Thursday, and support traders who lost their shops and goods in the disaster.

Okpebholo gave the assurance on Friday in Benin while addressing the affected traders shortly after assessing the extent of damage at the market.

It was reported  that Oluku Market is situated along the Benin-Lagos Road in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.

Recall that the market was affected by the inferno arising from a fuel tanker explosion, as some residents were scooping fuel.

The governor expressed sadness over the incident, saying that such situations could have been avoided.

He said the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, had sent her condolences to the victims and families of those who lost their lives.

“I spoke to the First Lady this morning, and she expressed her sadness over the incident,” he said.

The governor urged residents to stay away from fire disaster scenes involving petrol to avoid further casualties.

Okpebholo also visited the burns and plastic ward of the Accident and Emergency Department of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) to see some of the victims receiving treatment.

The governor, while addressing  parents of the victims admitted to the hospital,  stressed that the Federal Government had been spending huge amounts of money on advertisements warning against the dangers of scooping fuel.

He, however, frowned at the owner of the affected truck, who had immediately brought in another truck to transfer the contents without taking any precautionary measures.

He assured the traders that his administration would not abandon them, promising to restore their livelihoods through a  rebuilding and support exercise.

Earlier, the market’s Secretary, Mrs Blessing Itoje appealed to the governor  to come to their aid, saying that no trader had the opportunity to salvage anything from the inferno.

“We couldn’t even pick anything; everything burnt to ashes. Some of us are widows, and we use our meagre earnings to care for our families.

“Some of the traders were admitted to hospital due to the shock; some are on oxygen. Please, our father, some of us are servicing loans as I speak,” she said.

Another trader, Mrs Julie Ologbosere, also appealed to the governor to support the traders, saying they had been left with nothing.

The UBTH Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, conducted the governor, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, Sen. Matthew Urhoghide, alongside Edo Deputy Governor,  Dennis Idahosa, around the hospital facilities to see the victims.