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COVID-19: Edo Govt Enforces Market Relocation Order As Market Women Groan

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… Public Transporters Hike T-fare

By Joe Ebi

The directive given by the Edo State government some days back that all markets in the state should be shut down and consequently relocated to a nearby primary school was implemented on Wednesday, April 7.

The state government had on Monday, April 6 ordered the shut down and relocation of major markets in the state.

Evbuotubu market, Egor LGA , Benin City, deserted when Info Daily visited on Wednesday.

Deputy Governor of the state, Philp Shaibu, while briefing newsmen on the said date, said the closure and reloaction of the markets was to enable the government fumigate them in order to curtail the spread of the novel Coronavirus in the state.

READ ALSO: Lockdown: Police Tear-gas Rioting Okada Riders In Delta

He noted that after the markets must have been successfully fumigated, they would be open for full operations and that businesses would return to normalcy.

Still scene of Evbuotubu market on Wednesday when Info Daily visited

Meanwhile, INFO DAILY’s visit to one of the markets, Evbuotubu market, our reporter observed empty and deserted market while some women were seen in their 3, 4, discussing the new development.

Security personnel were also seen patrolling the market area with their hillux van to make sure people adhere to the directive.

Chicken section of Oliha market empty as at when Info Daily visited on Wednesday

A market woman spoke in pidgin with INFO DAILY but does not want her name mentioned in print, said there are other pressing issues government ought to attend to for market women rather than shutting down markets and reloacting them.

READ ALSO: Lockdown: Group Wants Courts exempted To Address Rising Abuses

According to her, at Evbuotubu market, they pay N400 revenue to the government everyday, stressing that this ought not to be.

Scene of the ever busy Oliha market, Benin

While lamenting that all roads that link Evbuotubu have been a death trap for years, she called on the government to quickly rehabilitate these roads so has to make life easier for residents of the area.

Another women who spoke but does not want her name mentioned as well, said the government would have device another means of achieving it purpose rather than ordering marketers to relocate.

“This Evbuotubu market is for every four four days (sic). The government would have ask us to leave immediately after the regular market and fumigate it within the four days so that we can come for the regular market.

Empty scene of the ever busy Oba market

READ ALSO: BREAKING: COVID-19: Major Markets To Shut Down Temporarily In Edo, Says Deputy Governor

“Also, the ticket (sic) we are paying everyday is too much. We pay N400 to the government everyday when all what some people make in a day is not even much”, she noted.

At Oliha market, the story was not different as the ever busy market was empty and deserted. Both regular and mobile policemen were seen standing at strategic locations apparently to enforce the government’s directive.

Meanwhile, visit to the popular Oba market, Oredo local government area, Benin shows the narrative was the same.

Scene of Oba market, Benin

As at when INFO DAILY was there, market men and women had been relocated while fumigation of the market and its environs had already commenced.

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In another development, public transporters have increased transport fare within Benin metropolis.

Investigation by INFO DAILY revealed that, in adherence to government’s directive of 2 persons in a roll and I person at the front, some drivers have increased their their charges by 100% while some increased theirs by 50%.

Still Oba Market , Benin

INFO DAILY gathered this at Evbuotubu market to ring road and other places visited today.

Recall, when government gave the directive of 2 persons in a roll, it was said the move was to maintain the social distancing precaution, warning that, this does not give motorists go ahead to hike their charges.

Kelly Okogbowa, Vice Chairman, Edo State Taskforce Technical Committee on COVID-19, while giving the directive on behalf of the state government on Friday April 3rd said, “You are are to load two passengers at the back seat, two passengers at the middle seat and one passenger at the front seat. If you load more than this requirement, you will be arrested and be prosecuted accordingly.

Shops under lock and key at the popular Oba Market

“The state government wants to curb the spread of Coronavirus so this is how it will be for now.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: ‘Load More Than Two Passengers Per Seat, Get Arrested’, Edo Govt Warns Motorists

“You are not paying for ticket, that has been suspended. Fuel price has drop, so you are not expected to increase your price. You have no reason to inflate transport fare because what could have led you to do so had been addressed by the government. And so, you are expected to charge the old price.”

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Metro

Oyo: Chief Imam of Tede Is Dead

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The Chief Imam of Tede, in the Oke Ogun geo-political zone in Oyo State, Alhaji Ahmad Tijani Adedigba, is dead.

DAILY POST reports that the Chief Imam, until his demise, was the Chairman of the Oke Ogun League of Imams and Alfas.

The state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, in his reaction, described the late Adedigba as a great leader and lover of peace.

READ ALSO: 16 Dead, 27 Injured In Kaduna-Abuja Expressway Accident

He added that the deceased contributed immensely to the religious harmony being enjoyed in the Oke Ogun area of the state.

Makinde, in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday, added that the entire Muslim community will miss the deceased.

The governor said, “I received with sadness the news of the death of Alhaji Ahmad Tijani Adedigba, the chairman of the Oke Ogun League of Imams and Alfas and Chief Imam of Tede in Atisbo Local Government Area of the state.

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“The late Chief Imam was a man of peace and a great leader, who provided direction to the Imams and Alfas body and contributed to the peaceful religious atmosphere in Oke Ogun.

“While submitting to the will of Allah and praying to God to grant his soul Aljanah Firdaus and also abide with everyone he left behind, I am certain that the body and the Muslim Ummah in Tede will miss his immense contributions.”

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Groom, 25 Others Arrested As NDLEA Burst Drug-fueled Wedding Reception

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) successfully intercepted what was purportedly a wedding reception but turned out to be an illicit drug party.

The bust resulted in the arrest of the groom and 25 individuals, as confirmed by Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy, in a statement posted on his Facebook account on Sunday.

Say a prayer against the demon of drugs in the lives of our youths this Sunday as #ndlea_nigeria busted another drug party organised as a wedding reception. Groom and 25 others arrested,” he wrote.

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The statement also said the big cartels also suffered heavy losses some hours before the arrest with the seizure of their cocaine consignments.

The big cartels also suffered heavy loss hours ago with the seizure of their cocaine consignments,” the statement read.

The arrested individuals, including the groom, are now in custody as investigations proceed.

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16 Dead, 27 Injured In Kaduna-Abuja Expressway Accident

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The Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), Kaduna Sector Command, says no fewer than 16 persons died and 27 sustained injuries in a road crash on the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.

The Sector Commander, Mr Kabir Nadabo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the fatal road traffic crash occurred at Audu Jhangon village along the expressway on Sunday.

He explained that the crash occurred at 05:20hrs, when a Daf trailer with registration number KUJ 430XC, with overloaded goods, lost control and fell into a ditch.

READ ALSO: NDLEA Nabs Businessman With Large Cocaine Consignments At Enugu Airport [PHOTOS]

”Initial reports indicate the driver was at high speed, probably due to fatigue.

“The combined rescue teams of RS1.114 Zhipe Unit Command and RS1.16B Dutse Outpost conducted the rescue operations.

“The crash involved 65 people, where 27 were injured and 16 people were deceased.

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“The injured have been taken to the nearest hospital for treatment,“ he added.

Nadabo said on receiving news of the crash, he visited the scene to have first-hand information as well as direct the rescue team on the evacuation of the deceased to the morgue.

I also directed the tow truck to remove part of the accidented trailer blocking part of the road. The operation is ongoing, and the road is free for movement,“ Nadabo said (NAN)

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