Edo civil servants stranded as ‘operation show your vaccination card’ begins

Unvaccinated civil servants and other people in Edo State were, on Wednesday, stranded at the state secretariat and other government offices in Benin City as the state government commenced its “no vaccination, no access to public places” policy.

The state government had said, beginning from 15, civil servants and others who could not present their proof of vaccination would be denied access to government offices, banks, worship and event centres.

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The exercise, which began before 7am on Wednesday, saw the state Head of COVID-19 Enforcement Team, Mr Yusuf Haruna, manning the main gate of the state Secretariat, located in GRA. He allowed only those who provided their vaccination cards to gain entry.

Our reporter, who monitored the development, observed the team as it scanned the cards to be sure they were not fake.

Speaking on the exercise, Haruna said he expected little hitches at the take-off of the exercise, assuring that there would be an improvement after a while.

“I am also sure that the people will also want to see if the government is serious about the directive.

“And with what we started today (Wednesday), we are demonstrating that the government is ready to save lives in the state,” he said.

Some of the civil servants, who spoke to journalists, said they were taken by surprise and did not bring their cards with them while others said they had not been vaccinated.

One of them, who craved anonymity, said he was unaware of the take-off day of the order.

He said: “I have not been vaccinated but I will think of what to do. I don’t know why they are forcing us”.