Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A wave of grief swept through the Egor Market in Benin City on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, as bulldozers moved in to demolish shops, eave extensions, and caravans built under a 132kV high-tension power line, an exercise that reduced the livelihoods of hundreds of traders to rubble. The demolition, carried out by the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency (ESDBCA), followed a directive from Governor Monday Okpebholo after a fire outbreak on the overhead power line on 26 June 2026, which killed at least one person and caused a major disruption to the national grid.
As the heavy machinery tore through the illegal structures, the atmosphere at the market was tense and emotional. Some stall owners broke down in tears, scrambling to salvage their wares from the wreckage, while others watched in helpless silence, complaining that the government had not given them enough time to evacuate their property. "It is painful to lose a shop, but if we don't do this, the fire will kill people. Government did the right thing," said Mrs Grace Odion, a trader who commended the state's action, acknowledging the safety risks posed by the power lines.
The demolition followed a frightening incident on Thursday, 26 June 2026, when the high-tension lines exploded and caught fire, causing traders and residents to flee for their lives. The fire, which occurred along the Benin-Egbin 330KV and Benin-Omotoso 330KV transmission lines, caused voltage instability across the national grid, leading to a power outage that affected parts of Lagos and its environs. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed that the incident led to the loss of some generating stations and subsequent interruption of electricity supply to the Lagos corridor. One person lost his life in the fire, and several others narrowly escaped death, prompting the government to take decisive action.
The Managing Director of ESDBCA, Darlington Igabali, who supervised the demolition, maintained that the traders had been adequately informed before the exercise. "We are executing the directive for the immediate evacuation of all illegal structures and activities along the power line right-of-way," Igabali said. He noted that many traders had already removed a substantial part of their structures before officials arrived, making the exercise easier for his team. "The demolished stalls belonged to traders who refused to comply with earlier directives. No goods were destroyed during the exercise. We gave them time to remove all that belonged to them. We made it humanly possible for them to do so before the demolition," he added.
Some of the affected traders confirmed receiving prior notice. Lisa Iredia, a trader at the market, admitted that the traders were given a seven-day notice before the exercise and that most of them complied with the government directive. However, others who ignored the warning were caught unawares and had to watch helplessly as their investments crumbled.
Edo State Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa, who visited the market earlier, explained that only structures directly encroaching on the electricity right-of-way would be affected, adding that the government had exempted buildings located farther from the line to minimise losses. "The demolition exercise will be carried out by the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency and the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. We have given exceptions to some properties that are a bit far off to minimise the damage. That is what the Okpebholo administration is all about: ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state," Idahosa said.
The demolition has drawn mixed reactions from the public. While some have commended the government for prioritising safety over commercial interests, others have expressed sympathy for the affected traders, many of whom have lost their primary source of livelihood. One of the affected traders, who lamented losing her business premises, appealed to the government for support to help her start over.
ESDBCA has warned that further enforcement would be carried out in other markets across the state where illegal structures exist under power lines, urging traders to adhere to building regulations and avoid erecting stalls in prohibited areas to prevent the loss of lives and property. The agency reiterated that the right-of-way must remain clear, as building under high-tension lines violates safety regulations and puts traders and customers at risk of electrocution and fire. For the traders of Egor Market, the demolition is a painful but necessary lesson in the high cost of ignoring safety regulations.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments