As development accelerates in Okrika, the need for robust safeguards to protect its people grows increasingly urgent. The Daka Market traders recently voiced their concerns to Executive Chairman Chief Hon. Akuro Alfred Tobin, highlighting challenges such as inadequate shelter, which results in goods damage during rainfall. They are seeking the Council’s assistance in constructing shelters, drilling boreholes, and installing toilets to enhance the market’s infrastructure and ensure a safer environment for traders and customers alike.
This plea underscores the delicate balance between progress and protection, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the well-being of communities amidst rapid development. The Daka market, also known as Caro Market, is a small trading hub situated in close proximity to refinery pipelines, posing a significant threat to the lives of traders and customers alike. The market’s location near these hazardous pipelines creates an extremely volatile environment, where the risk of accidents and explosions is alarmingly high.
Given the market’s precarious location, relocation is imperative to ensure the safety of all stakeholders. The pressing concern is not renovating the market with shelters and restrooms, but rather finding a safer location to relocate the traders and mitigate the risk of catastrophic incidents.
Okrika has witnessed a disturbing trend of pipeline-related incidents, highlighting the area’s vulnerability to oil spills and fires. In 2020, a pipeline leakage occurred at Ibuluya Dikibo Ama, going unnoticed by authorities for a week until the Local Government Chairman intervened after residents raised the alarm.
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Fast-forward to 2025, another incident unfolded at the same location, Ibuluya Dikibo Ama, when contractors attempted to replace an old, leaking pipe. Unfortunately, their efforts sparked a fire outbreak. Additionally, in April 2025, the Obianime-Ama Community faced a potentially catastrophic situation when a ruptured pipeline leaked an unidentified petroleum product, raising serious concerns about environmental hazards and resident safety. These incidents underscore the urgent need for improved pipeline maintenance, timely interventions, and enhanced safety measures to protect Okrika’s residents and environmen.
The Okrika Local Government Council and relevant authorities must prioritize the safety of traders by relocating them to safer areas instead of renovating the market as requested by the market women on 17th October. To safeguard traders and prevent future casualties, the government must take proactive measures to relocate them to a safe distance from the pipeline. By doing so, the risk of harm from potential explosions or fires can be significantly mitigated, ensuring the protection of lives and livelihoods in the surrounding communities.
Fortunately, two unused locations are available: the newly built Constituency project in Okochiri and the Ekerekana market stalls opposite the Education authority. Relocation to either of these sites would be a timely and profound decision, safeguarding the lives of traders and promoting a more secure business environment. The authorities should take immediate action to address this pressing issue.
