Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has pledged to rebuild Oluku Market in Ovia North-East Local Government Area and provide support for traders who lost their shops and goods in a devastating fire incident.
The governor gave the assurance on Friday, October 16, 2026, during an inspection of the affected market along the Benin-Lagos Road, where he expressed sadness over the destruction and sympathised with the victims.
According to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Ebojele Akhere Patrick, Okpebholo assured the traders that his administration would not abandon them in their time of need.
The governor also disclosed that Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, had expressed sympathy with the victims and the families of those who lost their lives in the incident.
“I spoke to the First Lady this morning, and she expressed her sadness over what happened yesterday,” he said.
Okpebholo urged residents to exercise caution during fire incidents involving petroleum products, warning against scooping fuel from fallen or damaged tankers.
He lamented that some people had continued to engage in the dangerous practice despite repeated safety awareness campaigns by the state and federal governments.
“Before the explosion, people were scooping fuel,” the governor said, adding that residents must heed safety warnings to prevent avoidable deaths and injuries.
He also faulted the owner of the affected tanker for allegedly bringing another tanker to transfer the fuel without adequate safety precautions, describing the action as wrong and dangerous.
“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,” he said.
Following his visit to the market, 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 medical attention.
Addressing the victims’ parents at the hospital, Okpebholo reiterated the importance of complying with safety advisories, particularly those warning against scooping fuel from accident scenes.
He again pledged his administration’s commitment to rebuilding the market and helping affected traders restore their means of livelihood.
Earlier, the market’s secretary, Blessing Itoje, appealed to the governor and his entourage for urgent assistance, explaining that the traders had lost virtually everything to the inferno.
According to her, the fire destroyed their shops and merchandise before they could rescue any of their belongings, leaving many traders and their families in severe financial distress.
“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,” Itoje said.
She added that some traders had been hospitalised following the incident, while others were receiving oxygen. She also disclosed that several victims were servicing loans before the disaster struck.
Another trader, Julie Ologbosere, appealed for government assistance, saying the affected traders had been left with nothing.
At UBTH, the Chief Medical Director, Professor Idia Ize-Iyamu, led the governor and his entourage, including Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa, former Edo State governor and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and Senator Matthew Urhoghide, on a tour of the hospital facilities where the victims were being treated.
The governor’s pledge to rebuild the market and support the affected traders comes amid calls for urgent intervention to help victims recover from the losses caused by the fire.
