Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has warned that unauthorized vehicles entering the state in violation of restriction on inter-state movement ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari to stem spread of COVID-19 around the country, would be impounded.
The governor, who gave the warning over the weekend while monitoring compliance of the order at some boundaries between Delta and neighbouring states, said that operators of such vehicles risked prosecution.
He told newsmen after monitoring situations at Niger Bridge boundary between Delta and Anambra and at Alifikede, the boundary community between the state and Edo on the Benin-Asaba highway, that he was satisfied with the level of compliance with the regulation.
Okowa reminded security agents and members of the State’s Task Force at the boundaries that only vehicles carrying agricultural products and those on essential duties should be allowed.
Meanwhile, Governor Okowa has announced the reduction of the daily tickets for tricycle (keke) and motorcycle (okada) operators in the state with immediate effect.
The measure according to him is part of the state government’s efforts to assuage the plight of operators and passengers during this Covid-19pandemic.
Following the new directive, all tricycle operators will now pay N200 and motorcycle riders will pay N100 for their daily tickets.
The State President of the Tricycle and Motorcycle operators Association, Chief Obi Nzete who disclosed this after speaking with the Governor said the reduction in the amount for daily tickets will further cushion the effects of the COVID-19 on Deltans.
He said the reduction is for the period under review saying that the State government and the association were deeply concerned about the plight of operators and riders as the number a tricycle can carry had been reduced to only two passengers while motorcycle is one passenger at a time.
