The People Assembly for Good Governance (PAGG), an advocacy organisation, has urged the Edo Government to compensate traders who lost their businesses in the recent tanker fire at Oluku, Benin City, and repair bad roads across the state.
In a statement jointly signed by its National Chairman, Dr Samson Isibor, and National Secretary, Mr Chukwuemeka Nkama on Saturday in Benin, PAGG described the incident as avoidable, blaming poor infrastructure and inadequate attention to public safety.
The group sympathised with families who lost loved ones, those injured in the incident and traders whose shops and goods were destroyed in the fire.
The organisation expressed concern over the lack of a well-equipped fire station in Oluku, a busy community along the Benin-Lagos Expressway.
It called for modern firefighting equipment and functional fire stations across the state’s 18 local government areas.
PAGG also blamed the poor condition of roads across Edo for increasing the risk of accidents, alleging that potholes and other road defects contributed to the tanker accident near Buvel Petrol Station in Oluku, which led to the fire.
While acknowledging Gov. Monday Okpebholo’s promise to rebuild the affected market, the group said the government needed to address the safety problems that contributed to the tragedy.
It urged the government to move traders operating too close to the expressway to safer locations and compensate those whose businesses were destroyed.
It also called for a review of market tickets and other levies imposed on traders.
“The Edo government must take governance and public safety more seriously by addressing infrastructure deficiencies and preventing avoidable tragedies.”
PAGG also urged the government to strengthen emergency response services and warned residents against approaching accident scenes involving petroleum products. (NAN)
