Rights groups ground commercial activities in Benin

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COMMERCIAL activities in Benin, Edo State, have been brought to a standstill as a coalition of civil society groups, under the aegis of Joint Action Force, JAF, aggrieved landladies, market women and disengaged staff of Edo Youth Empowerment Scheme, EDO YES, staged a peaceful protest against the policies of Edo State governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole.

The protesters, who marched through some major streets in the state capital, also grounded activities in and around the premises of Edo State House of Assembly, King’s Square, Sapele Road, Reservation/Golf Course Road, Dennis Osadabe and Edo State Government roads, respectively.

Also, disengaged Edo-YES staff protested their sacking by the state government without recourse to due process, while the landladies were against the introduction of the Land Use Charge and market women against multiple taxes, among others.
JAF denounced government’s alleged insensitivity to the plight of people with its alleged anti-people policies.

Abraham Ovia and Kola Edokpayi, who spoke for the protesters urged the state government to immediately commence the process of revamping ailing industries in the state and reverse some of its anti-people policies.

They noted that governance would be meaningless to the people if it’s policies were detrimental to them.

The protesters also denounced the recent increase in tuition fees at the state- owned Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, deplorable state of roads, especially those in the Benin metropolis, while demanding the resuscitation of Edo Line Transport Company.

Other demands of the group included the revamping of Edo State Pharmaceutical Company, Bendel Brewery, Ethiope Publishing Company, Ehor Fruit Juice Factory and Uromi Cassavita, among others.

Addressing the protesters on behalf of the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Chris Okaeben, who is the Chairman, House Standing Committee on Information and Sports, assured them that the House would look into their demands with a view of addressing them.

Source: Vanguard