COVID-19: Benin-Lagos transport operators defy interstate movement restriction

Some transport operators, plying the Benin-Lagos route, on Wednesday, defied the Federal Government’s restriction on interstate movement.
The Federal Government recently imposed restriction on interstate movement to reduce community transmission of the coronavirus disease.
In Benin City on Wednesday, many of the operators were seen with volumes of passengers travelling, especially towards Lagos.
At Oluko Motor Park, commuters pay as much as N4,000 to board a 15-seater bus to Lagos but the journey always terminates at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) camp in Ogun State.
Also, a taxi driver at Dawson road junction, who did not want to be identified, said that travellers from Benin City to Lagos paid N12,000 because the drivers had to bribe security operatives along the expressway.
“We spend up to N30,000 to settle officers at three locations, Ore, Boundary and Shagamu during our journey to Lagos.
“I decided to convey passengers from Benin to Lagos because I cannot sit at home, doing nothing,’’ the driver said.
At Iyaro Motor Park, it was observed that some transport operators were openly calling for travellers from Benin City to Lagos despite government’s restriction on interstate movement.