COVID-19 vaccine mandate sparks protest in Edo

A coalition of civil society organisations under the aegis of Equity International Initiative and Cypa Africa, on Monday, opposed the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine pass proposed by Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State.

Obaseki had last week while flagging off the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination exercise announced that only residents in the state that have been vaccinated against the viral disease would be allowed to access banking services and other social activities with effect from the second week of September.

But the civil society organisations, in a peaceful protest, described the directive as an infringement on peoples’ rights to freedom of movement and association, saying that the governor cannot compel residents to take the vaccine.