COVID-19: Fear grip Nnewi traders as Governor Obiano threatens market closure again

The Chairman of Agboedo Edo Motor Spare Parts Association, Nkwo Nnewi, Anambra State, Mr. Dennis Ikegwuonu has absolved traders in his market of breaching the State government’s protocol on Covid-19 given the traders as a condition to continue trading activities when Governor Willie Obiano eased up lockdown in the state.

Mr. Ikegwuonu who was reacting to the State government’s warning that markets where Covid-19 protocols were not kept would be locked down again said that traders at the motor parts were trying their best to maintain all the directives of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and Anambra State government.

“We wear our face masks and have strategic points where people both customers and the entire traders wash their hands with sanitizers as we try as much as we can to maintain social distancing. And our taskforce members are very strict at the entry points not to allow people without facemasks into our market no matter who is involved.

“Some people are stiff-necked and that is why they sometimes try to circumvent the order. We will handle that. And we have warned those who just drop their facemasks at their jaws instead of covering their noses and mouths to desist from doing so otherwise we will treat them as those who wear no facemasks at all.

“We appeal to Governor Obiano not to close our market again because the previous lockdown sometime ago subjected us to untold hardship and we would not like a repeat of that ugly experience anymore,” Ikegwuonu pleaded.

Meanwhile, the State government has ordered the shut down of Eke Awka Market, in Awka South Local Government Area with effect from June 15.

According to a statement from the office of the Secretary to Anambra State government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, the shut down was as a result of non-compliance by the market traders and customers with Covid-19 protocols including wearing of protective face masks, provision of running water and soap for washing of hands and keeping of physical distancing.

Also, effective Monday June 15, 2020, according to the statement, is curfew in Awka South Council Area to begin from 8pm to 6am daily, until further notice.

“These actions by the government are as a result of increased cases of Covid-19 in Awka South Local Government.

“The government is also putting other market leaders and local government councils in the State on notice that a similar curfew action will be taken, and markets in the local government areas closed down, if it is observed that such markets do not observe Covid-19 protocols,” the statement read.