Akure – Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, ministries, banks and some other institutions on Friday closed for the day at about 12 p.m in Akure, the Ondo capital, and some other parts of the state.

This was in compliance with the state government’s directive declaring half day for workers to enable them prepare adequately for the election.

The Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Dr Rotimi Adelola, had said in a statement on Thursday that the gesture was to allow the workers participate in Saturday’s election.

He said the government took the decision having realised that some citizens of the state had to travel to where they had registered for the election some years ago.

“The government thought there is need to give our people the chance and the opportunity to get to where they can exercise their franchise,’’ he said.

The state secretariat, local government secretariats, banks as well as some other institutions were virtually empty as at 12:30 p.m.

A civil servant, Mr James Olowoyo, said that civil servants were happy about the decision as it would allow them to prepare for the election.

The Abuja and Lagos motor parks in Akure were, however, empty as at 2:p.m when a NAN correspondent visited the two parks.

Some residents attributed the development to the long distances of the destinations such as Abuja, Lagos and Lokoja.

A commuter, Mrs Grace Jinadu, who was sighted at Abuja motor park, said she was disappointed that she could not get a vehicle to Lokoja as at 2: p.m.

Business activities were, however, going on uninterrupted in Akure, Owo, Ondo and other major towns in the state.

Commercial motorcyclists in the state capital were also making brisk business as many increased their fares by as much as 50 per cent due to the heavy human traffic.

NAN also observed that there were long queues at ATM machines in most of the banks’ premises due to the early closure of banking halls to customers.

A resident, Mr Busari Adekola, said he was surprised to discover that his bank had closed for business as at early afternoon.

‘’Thank God, I was able to cash some money with my ATM card for the use of the family during the weekend,” Adekola said.(NAN)