Election postponement paralyses business activities in Ilorin

Date: 2019-02-19

Business activities across most parts of Ilorin, Kwara State capital was paralysed following the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to hold last Saturday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the election to Saturday 23rd of February and 3rd March, citing logistics issues for the development.

A visit by Pilot Business to the commercial centre of the state capital, Ibrahim Taiwo road by 10am revealed that most of the shops were under locks and key. The roads were deserted and vehicular movement was minimal.

The situation was similar in areas like Sawmill, Unity, Muritala, Ahmadu Bello Way, Ajase-Ipo road, Asa Dam, Surulere, Oja-Oba, Fate and Tanke among others.

Similarly, when our reporter went round the major markets within the metropolis, it was discovered that there were lull in business activities.

The major eateries along Unity road did not also open to customers while the privately owned motor parks in the area were deserted at the time of the visit.

However, some business operators who spoke to this medium expressed disappointment over the election postponement by INEC.

A businessman, Mr. Uchenna Thompson expressed frustration over the development, saying that the country was shut down for nothing.

A restaurant operator at the Post Office area, Chineye Fast Food, Mrs. Okafor Fidelis bemoaned her loss.

She said: "INEC has failed us and this particular development has adverse economic effect on business activities. In my case, people have been coming to order for food but we couldn't meet up with their demand because we were not prepared to open for business today because of the election.

Also, the Kwara State Chairman, Road Transport Employees Associations of Nigeria (RTEAN), Alhaji Olayinka Abdulrahman Onikijipa said the situation affected operations of commercial motorists in the state.

"The situation affected our members, particularly those that are into interstate operations," he explained.

A trader at the popular Yoruba Road market, Ilorin, Mrs. Funke Akande, lamented the huge loss suffered by traders across the state.

Akande said that the election postponement adversely affected the trading sector in the state.

She noted that the postponement would affect the economy adversely in terms of money that the government, political parties and ordinary Nigerians had already expended on logistics.

According to her, the government would have diverted such money to address issues in the area of infrastructure, health, education and payment of workers' salaries.

On their part, Kwara bakers said they recorded a loss of N15million in one day to the postponed election.

Speaking with this medium on the issue, the Kwara State Chairman Master Bakers Association, Alhaji Fatahi Alaba, berated INEC over the development.

"In compliance with government order, we did not open shop for business but unfortunately, the election was postponed. In Ilorin alone, we have over 350 bakeries whose daily production capacities are worth millions. This development had bad economic effect on us and we are still counting our losses," he further lamented.

On his part, an Ilorin Insurance expert, Judo Samuel has described the economic loss of the suspended Saturday election to the Kwara State economy as monumental.

She said the cost implication of the postponement on the citizens who abandoned their daily businesses and livelihood just to discharge their civic rights is huge and monumental.

"If it is to be valued in term of monetary loss, it is a big loss to the Kwara State economy", she noted.

Source

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Sheikh Ridhwanullah El-ilory     Olatinwo     Labaeka     Eleja Taiwo Banu     Special Agro-Industrial Hub     Nigerian Army     Bolaji Nagode     HYPPADEC     Jamiu Oyawoye     Elelu     Standard Organization Of Nigeria     Tunde Idiagbon Road     Olosi Of Osi     Kawu     Lanre Issa Onilu     Abdulrazaq Sanni     Economic And Financial Crimes Commission     Salihu Ajibola Ajia     Oniye     Ado Bayero     International Public Sector Accounting Standards     Tunji Moronfoye     Saduki Lafiagi     Joana Nnazua Kolo     Gbemisola Saraki     Hussein Oloyede     Idowu Laro     Ayekale     All Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools     Binta Abubakar-Mora     Kuliyan Geri     Offa Descendants Union     Oba Abdulraheem     Bello Oyedepo     Mohammed Kamaludeen     Cassava Growers\' Association     Volunteers Of Ilorin Community And The Emirate     Ibraheem Abdullateef     Lola Olabayo     Kwha.gov.ng     Samuel Elizabeth Keatswa     Kale Bayero     Sulyman Age AbdulKareem     Abikan     Kayode Oyin Zubair     Abdulhakeem Amao     Shao     Bola Tinubu     NNPP     Olam Food Ingredients     Tunji Folami     Lafiagi     Mahee Abdulkadir     A.E. Afolabi     Dan Masanin     Oko Erin     Bashiru Makama     Mutawalle     Senate Presidency     Kamaldeen Ajibade     ASMAU PLAZA     Ilorin     Ojo Fadumila     Salami Adekunle     Wahab Kunle Shittu     VADA     Ariyo     Jamila Bio Ibrahim     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Ajike People Support Centre     Ghali Alaaya     Adeola Abraham     Gambari     Oba-Solagberu     Aisha Ahman Pategi     ENetSuD     Rafiu Ajakaye    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Kawu Baraje     Akanji     Olusin Of Ijara Isin     Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu     TETFUND     Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf     Fatai Adeniyi Garba     Salihu Yahaya     Apaola     Principal Private Secretary     State Bureau Of Internal Revenue     Rotimi Samuel Olujide     Yusuf A. Usman     Sadiq Buhari     Split Diamond Interchange     Omoniyi M. Ayinla     Durosinlohun Kawu     3MTT     General Hospital, Offa     Alliance For Democracy     Minister     Buhari     Rapheal Ashaolu     Sola Saraki Educational Foundation     Okeose Christian Cementary     Sheikh Alimi     Doyin Awoyale     Universal Basic Education Commission     Sa\'adatu Modibbo-Kawu     Samuel Elizabeth Keatswa     Saliu Tunde Bello     Kwara TV     Abdulrahman Onikijipa     Shehu Jimoh     Ariyo     Ohoro Of Shao     Taiwo Joseph     Muideen Olaniyi Alalade     Tuesday Assayomo     Bamidele Adegoke     Kabir Shagaya     Florence Saraki     Biliaminu Aliu     April 11     Pacify Labs     Bayo Ajia     Joseph Offorjama     Kwara Hotel     Umar Adelodun     SSUCOEN     Wahab Agbaje     Salary     Sheu Ndanusa Usman     Bola Magaji     Ajuloopin     Kulende     Maigida     Tinubu     Justina Oha     Laduba     Unilorin     Usman Yunusa     Christopher Odetunde     James Kolo     Salihu Alhaji Musa     Shola Odetundun     Olayinka Jelili Yusuf     Kayode Ogunlowo     Ibraheem Adeola Katibi     Wahab Abayawo     Lateef Fagbemi     GRA     Oloje     Gbenga Awoyale     Maja     Seni Saraki     Shettima Of Ilorin