The Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in a broadcast on Friday brought to the fore the precautionary measures put in place by his administration in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
“With effect from Monday, May 11th, 2020, all approved markets with the exception of Enugu Main Market Ogbete are to operate from 7am to 4pm; Ogbete Market’s operational time remains between 8am to 2pm.
In addition to the above directive, all previously outlined precautionary measures remain in force”, emphasized the Governor.
Ugwuanyi further explained that the decision to regulate the hours markets are allowed to operate was to enable affected traders arrive their homes ahead of the Federal Government’s 8pm to 6am curfew.
On the Ogbete Main Market which is the largest market in the State, the Governor maintained that the market is still on partial lockdown.
The guideline as it relates to Ogbete Market states as follows:
Pharmaceutical dealers: 3 days in a week: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Operational time: 8am to 2pm.
Provisions/ wholesale food dealers and restaurant operators: 2 days in a week: Tuesdays and Thursdays. Operational time: 8am to 2pm.
Ugwuanyi however expressed dissatisfaction with traders because of their flagrant flouting of the allotted time of operation and calls on the market unions to checkmate members as the measures are for the safety of all.
He further encouraged the people of the state “to continue to abide by all the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) protocol including the use of face masks in public, maintaining social/physical distancing while observing high levels of personal hygiene”.
Recall that the Governor had on 4th May 2020 eased the lockdown procedure put in place in the state. Hence the Ogbete Main Market which was on complete lockdown because they flouted the measures was then reopened partially with dates for operation for the different essential sections.
