… As Abia transporters seek palliative from enforcers
The Anambra State government has approved Saturdays as school days, in place of Monday, following the sit-at-home directive imposed by the Indigenous People of Biafara (IPOB).
The State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba, confirmed the situation at the weekend.
Adinuba said all school heads have been directed to notify teachers, pupils as well as parents about the new development.
He said: “Quality Assurance supervision and every other supervision, henceforth, will hold on Saturdays.
“Every permission for absence from classes on Saturdays must be addressed to the executive chairman, ASUBBEB through the E S following due process.
“Saturday classes will commence on October 30.”
Adinuba said the state government approved Saturday classes because it wants the children to learn well and not miss anything.
Meanwhile, transporters in Abia State have appealed to the enforcers of the weekly sit-at-home order in the South-east to give them palliatives to cushion the effects of the lockdown.
They said the directive is making things difficult for them.
They complained that the transport sector is the worst hit by the directive, as their vehicles are usually attacked or vandalised while passengers on the other hand, hardly come out of their homes for fear of attacks.
The five states in the South-east region have been groaning under the frequent order by IPOB.
The residents have continued to comply with the Monday order in spite of its suspension by IPOB, which directed that it should be observed only on the days its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is to appear in court.
Residents expressed worry that the weekly restriction would cripple the socio-economic activities in the region, known for commerce and trade.
Chairman of Abia State Drivers’ Welfare Union, Mr. Henry Okezie, said the directive has dealt a big blow on the transport sector.
He said: “This frequent sit-at-home is really affecting us because we can’t operate if we don’t see passengers.
“Most of our members have their vehicles on a hire purchase; which means that we must work every day to meet the target.
“We are appealing to the enforcers of this directive to give us some palliatives in order to cushion the effect.
“We have over 200 members at this Isigate Park in Umuahia whose buses are operating on Umuahia-Ikwuano and Umuahia-Ubakala routes.
“Each of us make a minimum of N10,000 daily. So any day we don’t work we lose over N2 million on the average.”
Okezie said they would continue to comply in fear with the directive because “some of our vehicles got damaged while some passengers were injured the other time we flouted it.”
Also, Mr Kingsley Chijindu, a driver on Umuahia-Aba route said that the passengers were still very much afraid to come out, in spite of the suspension of the Monday exercise.
“Passengers are scarce on Mondays because they are afraid of being attacked on the road.
“The sit-at-home is even worse in Aba than Umuahia. So I have decided to take Monday as my day of rest till further notice.
“We really need help either from IPOB or the government, to cover up the monetary loss because we cannot continue like this,” he said.
Curiously, a driver plying the Umuahia-Ohafia route, Victor Rowland, said he has problem with the directive, saying it gives him the opportunity to stay with his family.
“Initially, I was worried considering how much I was losing on a weekly basis. But I’m okay with it now, because I have time to be with my children,” he said.
Rowland, however, urged the enforcers to consider an alternative in order not to destroy the people they claim to be protecting.
