Gov. Monday Okpebholo of Edo says traders will receive free shop allocations at the rehabilitated Oba Market in Benin when the project is completed, to help them return to business quickly.
Okpebholo made this known on Tuesday during an inspection of ongoing projects in the state with a group of editors.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Oba Market was destroyed by a major fire in June 2020 and suffered another fire outbreak in October 2025.
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He said the free allocation would apply only for an initial period, after which traders would be expected to pay.
“Just as we came in to start building, we promised them that it was going to be free. The initial access has to be free,” he said.
He explained that the decision reflected his administration’s commitment to supporting traders affected by the market's rehabilitation and remodelling.
He said that under the new plan, traders in the section now being rehabilitated would move first into the newly completed section so work could continue.
Okpebholo said the first phase of the project has delivered a crèche, a clinic, water supply, fire service facilities and other amenities meant to improve the welfare of traders and customers.
He explained that the market now has about 900 shops, including roughly 500 lock-up shops and 400 open stalls.
He added that the rehabilitation, which began in 2025, is intended to give traders and residents who patronise the market a more conducive and functional environment.
Apart from the Oba Market, the editors also visited the New Edo Line, Oredo Girls Secondary School and Army Day Senior Secondary School.
The Principal of Oredo Girls Secondary School, Mrs Adesuwa Uwaifo, spoke of the difficult conditions teachers and students endured in the past and thanked the governor for renovating the school to meet modern standards.
At the Army Day Secondary School in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Kassim Afegbua, said the government took 21 days to put essential infrastructure in place.
Afegbua said the work included a perimeter fence, water supply and toilets, solar-powered electricity, and modern marker boards to replace the old chalkboards. Tables and chairs were also supplied to the classrooms.
According to Afegbua, pupils who left for the Easter holiday returned to find the school completely changed.
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