AS a way of cushioning the effects arising from the redesigned naira notes, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has directed that beginning from today, Thursday, February 16, 2023, all Edo City Transport Service (ECTS) buses are to provide free services to passengers.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie said the directive is applicable to all routes and is effective till Monday, February 20, 2023, after which further announcement would be issued on the matter.
“The government calls on the people to remain calm and law-abiding and assures that normalcy will be restored shortly”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the NYCN Comrade Peter Aguebor appealed to all youths in the State to halt the ongoing violent protest in the which has led to disruption of business activities in Benin metropolis.
Addressing a press conference, he said the protest was capable of being hijacked by hoodlums and “avoid the repeat of the horrible experience of hijack during the #EndSARs protest in Edo State.
The Governor also met with the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele;
“Today, I met with officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and members of the Assoc. of Mobile Money and Bank Agents of Nigeria in the state to strategize on how to disburse cash to ease the tension and hardship faced by our people in accessing redesigned naira notes.
We would like the CBN to immediately fund more POS operators as much as possible as they go into the markets with the necessary security to address the cash shortage since banks are not opened for now.”
