Heavy traffic in Rivers markets as residents race to meet gov’s deadline, get FG’s N5,000 monthly stipend

There was heavy traffic in markets across Rivers State, as residents trooped out to buy food as government announced on Sunday that all markets in the state would operate between 7am and noon on April 7 and 8, to allow residents shop for Easter.

The governor ordered closure of all markets from March 28, 2020 when he confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the state.

Investigations revealed that the markets were filled up with the normal pushing and shoving of shoppers, ignoring the social distancing directive.

There was jubilation in Okrika Council as 1,331 persons received between 20,000 to N30,000 each from the Federal Government’s monthly stipend of N5,000.

The Muhammadu Buhari-led administration had in September last year commenced payment of N5,000 monthly stipend to the poorest and most vulnerable in Rivers through the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) of its Social Investment Programme (SIP).

The payment is done in two circles: beneficiaries get N10,000 for two months.

But according to the National Cash Transfer Officer of the Programme, Okulola Ademola, the beneficiaries in Okirika received only September to December payment as the January to April payment, which was paid yesterday, was delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

He said that government covered only about 30 per cent enrolment in Rivers, adding that the next batch would cover about 50 per cent while the final batch would be 20 per cent, thus covering the 23 councils of the state.