By Simeon OSAJIE
The Executive Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has promised to rebuild Oluku Market, which was destroyed by fire, and support traders who lost their shops and goods in the incident.
He gave the assurance on Friday after inspecting the damage at the market, located along the Benin-Lagos Road in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.
The governor expressed sadness over the incident, saying the disaster could have been avoided. He assured the traders that his administration would not abandon them.
He said the First Lady, Sen. 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.
Governor Okpebholo urged residents to stay away from scenes of fire disasters involving petrol to prevent further casualties.
“We are sorry. We, as human beings, should also take precautions whenever something like this happens. Before the explosion, people were scooping fuel.
“But the state and federal governments have spent a lot of money on advertisements to educate the public to stay away from such disasters, but people won’t listen,” he said.
The governor also criticised the owner of the affected tanker for bringing another tanker to transfer the fuel without taking the necessary safety precautions.
“The owner of the affected tanker also brought another tanker to evacuate the fuel, which is very wrong. If this had not happened, there would not have been any fire incident.
“This is the result of it. We are sorry; it is not our making. We pray God keeps us alive,” he said.
Governor Okpebholo also visited 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 the parents of the victims at the hospital, the governor reiterated the need for residents to heed safety warnings on the dangers of scooping fuel.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to rebuilding the market and helping the affected traders recover their livelihoods.
Earlier, the market’s secretary, Blessing Itoje, appealed to the governor and his entourage for assistance, saying the traders could not salvage any of their goods before the fire destroyed their shops and wares.
“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, Julie Ologbosere, also appealed to the governor for support, saying the traders had been left with nothing.
The UBTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, conducted Okpebholo alongside his Deputy, Dennis Idahosa, former Edo governor and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Matthew Urhoghide around the hospital facilities to see the victims receiving treatment