By joshua Oluku Inferno: PAGG Condoles With Victims, Calls For Road Repairs, Traders’ Compensation
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin city
The People Assembly for Good Governance (PAGG) has expressed shock over the devastating loss of lives and property in the fire incident that engulfed the Oluku area of Benin City, Edo State, a few days ago.
The organisation sympathised with the families of those who lost their loved ones, the injured victims and traders whose shops and goods were destroyed in the inferno. It also extended its condolences to the people of Edo State over the tragedy.
In a statement signed by the National Chairman and secretary, Dr Samson Isibor and Chukwuemeka Nkama, “PAGG
described the incident as avoidable, blaming what it called the Edo State Government’s failure to give adequate attention to critical public safety infrastructure.
The organisation questioned the absence of a well-equipped fire service station in a busy and rapidly expanding community such as Oluku, located along the Benin-Lagos Expressway. It also called for functional fire service facilities equipped with modern firefighting equipment across the state’s 18 local government areas.
According to PAGG, emergency response systems should be strengthened to ensure that fire outbreaks and other disasters are tackled promptly, rather than leaving residents and emergency responders scrambling for solutions after lives and property have been lost.
The group also expressed concern over the poor condition of roads across Edo State, arguing that potholes and other road defects contribute to accidents and endanger motorists and other road users.
It alleged that the poor state of the road contributed to the tanker accident at Oluku, opposite Buvel Petrol Station, which preceded the fire outbreak.
PAGG maintained that the state government must take governance and public safety more seriously by addressing infrastructure deficiencies and preventing avoidable tragedies.
The organisation further described the governor’s promise to rebuild the affected market as insufficient without concrete measures to address the underlying problems that expose residents and traders to recurring dangers.
It urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to rehabilitate roads across the state, relocate traders operating dangerously close to the expressway to safer locations and provide adequate compensation to those whose businesses were destroyed by the fire.
PAGG said such assistance would enable the affected traders to rebuild their businesses and restore their livelihoods.
The organisation also called on the state government to review the collection of market tickets and other levies imposed on traders, particularly those struggling with economic hardship.
While urging the government to take urgent steps to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy, PAGG appealed to residents to avoid scooping petrol from fallen tankers or approaching accident scenes involving petroleum products, warning that such actions could result in further loss of lives.
The organisation called on the Edo State Government to prioritise public safety, improve emergency response infrastructure and provide practical support for victims of the Oluku inferno.