Edo Government has declared today as a work-free day to enable workers and others travel to their voting areas ahead of the Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
A statement by Joseph Eboigbe, Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), reassured that security measures had been provided to ensure a free, fair, and credible election.
According to Eboigbe, it is hereby announced for the information of the general public that the Edo State Government has declared today a work-free day.
“This is to enable workers and other electorates travel to their voting areas ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the State.”
“Government wishes everyone journey mercies and reassures that security measures have been provided to ensure a free, fair and credible election, “ he said.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says about 1.6 million people have been affected by flooding in Nigeria between April and September 2024.
Hajiya Zubaida Umar, the Director -General of NEMA, made this known during the 2024 downscaling of flood early warning strategies for early actions’ event in Birnin Kebbi, yesterday.
Umar, represented by Dr Daniel Obot, the Director of Disaster Risk Reduction of the agency, also said that 634,035 were displaced, and 94,741 houses destroyed or submerged.
She said the aim of the early warning strategies was to integrate direct risk communication and engagement approach to disseminate early warning message for early actions at the state, LG, and community levels.
“ The rainfall and flood advisories contained in the Season Climate Prediction (SCP), and Annual Flood Outlooks (AFO) of Nigeria, Meteorological Agency and Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA),respectively, have provided us with early warning alerts.
“ Consequently, all of us are expected to take actions that will drastically reduce the adverse impacts of floods on the entire lands and Nigerian population, especially for the most vulnerable persons living in communities identified to be at risk of flooding,” she said.
Umar rsaid that the statistics from the National Emergency Coordination Centre (EOC) of NEMA as at Sept. 13, 176 LGAs in 30 states including the FCT were affected as against the 148 LGAs and 31 states predicted by NIHSA.
Also speaking, Gov. Nasir Idris, appreciated NEMA’s proactive stance in assessing flood risk areas, providing relief and strengthening our capacity for disaster management.
“ Your expertise and resources will bolster our efforts to protect lives, livelihoods and infrastructure,” he said.
Idris, represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Abubakar Umar-Tafida, said the State had experienced severe flooding in at least 13 LGAs recently, displacing communities and affecting agricultural productivity.
“ Your visit will help identify more areas of urgent need and enhancing flood early warning systems, strengthening emergency preparedness and response, as well as providing relief and rehabilitation support,” he said.
The governor reiterated the committed of his administration to collaborating with NEMA to ensure effective flood management and disaster risk reduction.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, says it has intercepted a Nissan Pathfinder car loaded with suspected bags of foreign parboiled rice at Ikoga area of Badagry, Lagos State.
The Public Relations Officer, FOU Zone A, Theophilus Duniya, disclosed this in an interview with The Tide source in Badagry.
According to the PRO, a patrol team from the FOU, while on a routine patrol intercepted a Nissan Pathfinder car that was loaded with suspected bags of foreign parboiled rice at Ikoga in Badagry.
“While taking the vehicle with its contents to the government warehouse at Ikeja, some suspected smugglers and their sympathisers mobilised themselves and started peddling stones and other dangerous items at the officers.
“The officers were gallant and professional in their conduct as they safely maneuvered their way out with the intercepted goods to the warehouse without any casualty,” he said.
Duniya said that nobody sustained injury or was killed contrary to some reports.
He urged parents and community leaders to discourage their children from engaging in criminal activities that could put their well-being and that of others at risk.