Business activities have bounced back in most part of Benin metropolis, hours after the state government reviewed the curfew imposed in the state from 24-hour to 14-hour, with activities permitted from 6am to 4pm daily.
The state governor Godwin Obaseki had on Monday imposed a 24-hour curfew in the state when the #EndSARS protest turned violent and resulted to setting ablaze public and private institutions, jailbreaks in Benin Correctional Centre along Sapele road and Oko medium centre along Airport road.
Obaseki, however, on Thursday reviewed the curfew from 4pm to 6am beginning from Friday, October 23, 2020.
BusinessDay reports the protest which was purpotedly hijacked by hoodlums resulted to the loss of public and private property worth hundreds of millions of naira and loss of many lives.
Few hours after the government’s directive to relax the curfew, business activities are gradually returning to its usual shape in Benin metropolis.
A visit to Oba market, mission road, Lagos Street markets, Akpakpava, Airport, Ekenwan roads among others business places were in full swing as traders and buyers engaged in business transactions.
Communications shops, eateries, filling stations earlier closed for business opened and attended to intending customers.
However, banks, federal and state government establishments and offices were still under lock and key.
Customers besieged various bank’s Automated Teller Machines (ATM) for banking transactions.
At Oba market police station which was razed by suspected hoodlums, no officer of the station was on sight but a new roof has however been put on the security post of the station.
Commercial vehicles were all available on different routes for transport activities.
Some of the market women and drivers commended the state government for relaxing the curfew
They said the hour of 6am to 4pm which the governor had reviewed the curfew to will enable them source for means of livelihood instead of the earlier 24-hour that will not give them window of opportunity to fend for their families
Meanwhile, a resident Douglas Ogbankwa has appealed to the youths to allow the existing peace being enjoyed in the state to continue as no meaningful development can be achieved in an atmosphere filled with bitter anger.
