Protesters block Benin-Ore expressway over naira scarcity

Some residents of Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Friday, blocked the Benin-Ore expressway to protest the scarcity of naira notes in the state.

The protesters made bonfires on both sides of the Benin-Ore expressway, leading to heavy gridlock on the ever-busy highway.

Some of the protesters said they were protesting over the naira notes scarcity which they claimed was taking a toll on them and their families.

They also lamented their inability to access cash from banks’ Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), adding that they were not allowed into the banking halls.

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“This is indeed a hard time for us, the naira scarcity is taking a toll on me and my family, and this protest is to demonstrate that we are not happy over this situation,” one of the protesters, Kayode Akinbola, told NAN.

Another protester, Rotimi Akinluwa, said the inability to access his money through the banks’ ATMs and banking halls was frustrating.

“I have my money in the bank and I cannot get it, even the Point of Sale (POS) operators no longer have the cash even if you want to buy, this is so frustrating,” he said.

Another protester, Mr Bummi Adewole described President Buhari’s nationwide broadcast on Thursday as “the most frustrating one as he refused to heed to the yearnings of the masses in his broadcast.”

“Buhari said they should re-circulate the N200 old notes, how many people will this satisfy, in fact, there is no solution on the way at all and the problem continues,” Adewole said.

Speaking on the incident, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Funmilayo Odunlami, said police officers from Ore Police Area Command were “on top of the situation to arrest any breakdown of law and order.”

The Star