…Rehabilitation of major markets set to kick-off.
By Eguasa Godspower
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, during a stakeholder meeting with Market Women Association, assured Edo residents of ongoing plans by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure funds are distributed across the State through authorized POS terminal operators and warned that the licenses of operators who exploit the situation to extort citizens will be revoked.
Accompanied by top government officials, including the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, the First Lady, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogiie Esq., commissioner, and executives from deposit money banks, the Governor, appealed for the cooperation of residents as the State is working tirelessly to ensure the lingering naira crisis is resolved.
The issues discussed at the meeting were currency scarcity, lingering fuel crises, and the rehabilitation of markets across the senatorial districts of the State with a view to finding lasting solutions for Edo.
Obaseki said: “I the Governor, am not left out in this current issue of naira scarcity affecting residents in the State and that is why I called for the meeting with the CBN executives.
“Anyone operating a POS terminal with license, the CBN will ensure they get funds starting from Tuesday. For any POS operator that charges more than the standard rate set by the financial regulatory body, we would ensure we seize their operating license.
Encouraging residents to embrace the cashless policy from the apex bank to reduce the demand for cash, Obaseki said: “I hope you know that POS is not limited to only cards, they can also help you transfer funds from one transaction point to another”.
“The Edo State Government will issue the Edo Residency Identity Card to its residents, the ID Card can be used to make payments, and it can be used in the market for financial transactions. By the grace of God, before I leave office, I will ensure all Edo residents are issued the State ID Card and it can be used in the banks, markets, and schools.
Updating the market women on the efforts to rebuild major markets in Edo, he explained that new designs have been developed for the Ekiosa Market and directed the Chief of Staff, Hon. Toni Iyoha, who was also present at the meeting to lead the conversation around the approval of the designs by the Market Women Association.
“The design incorporates; a primary health care center, playground for children and others. Once the design is approved, before the end of next month, construction works will commence. If not for the election that is close, we would have commenced construction immediately”.
He added: “I will need to sit down with those of you from the Oliha market to enable us to design a plan and commence rehabilitation works.
“The burnt section of the Oba market will be revamped. We would need your effort to secure the cooperation of all trading in the market to enable us to commence rehabilitation works.”
“For the Edo Central and Edo North markets, we will need the market women from those regions to have a meeting with us to enable us to know what kind of design is needed and how to commence the construction works,” he concluded.
The Leader of the Market Women Association, Mrs. Blackky Ogiamien while delivering her remarks praised the developmental strides of the Obaseki administration.
She specifically commended the Governor for the proactive steps taken in managing the issue of the Covid-19 pandemic without shutting down the economy of the State and banning market activities by traders, a decision that she said ensured the livelihoods of many families across the state were preserved.
