Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari had on Sunday evening announced a lockdown of major cities worst hit by the novel coronavirus.
Addressing the nation, Buhari ordered a ban on social and economic activities and gatherings of people in the capital Abuja, the commercial hub Lagos, Ogun state and surrounding cities to stem the spread of the virus.
“I am directing the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for an initial period of 14 days with effect from 11 p.m. [2000GMT] on Monday, 30th March 2020.
“This restriction will also apply to Ogun State due to its close proximity to Lagos and heavy traffic between the two states,” he said.
The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the country has risen to 111, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced late Sunday in an update on its website.
Even before the president broadcast, some states have declared ban and restrictions of movement to contain the spread of the virus.
Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba on Saturday announced a ban on travels in and out of the state .
The announcement is contained in a press statement by Hassan Mijinyawa, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said that the decision to close the state’s land borders was taken as part of continued efforts to protect Taraba from the spread of the dreaded coronavirus.
It urged the Police Command in the state and the National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), to ensure strict compliance.
Like Taraba , in Bauchi government ordered total shuts down of all markets across the 20 LGAs of the state, except those selling food stuffs and other essential items for survival.
Reports say that the state Deputy Governor Senator Baba Tela, who is the head of coronavirus task force in the state, announced this at a press conference at government house, Bauchi.
Baba Tela said the government has directed security agencies in the state to ensure compliance of the markets closure.
Already, the special task force on coronavirus headed by the deputy governor has met with members of the National Union of Road Transports Workers, NURTW to ensure that only four persons board a taxi at a time, one at the front seat and two at the back seat to reduce overcrowding.
Hard Times for Residents
For now prices of food items and other essential commodities continued to soar with residents lamenting hard times.
Some residents and traders spoken to have appealed to the Federal Government to regulate the prices of food items in these trying times.
The residents and traders at various markets in Yola and Jalingo said the prices of food items should be regulated to cushion the effect of the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It was observed that there was panic and rush hour buying by residents while a lot of traders had increased the prices of their products taking advantage of the current situation to exploit consumers.
Mr Yohanna David, a public servant in Yola said he came to the Jimeta market to buy some food items for his family and noticed that the money he brought could not buy him enough food and essential items.
David decried that the prices of food items had been increased compared to what they used to be a week ago.
“I came to this market with N10, 000 to buy some food items for my family but now I cannot buy what I came here to buy because of the increase in the prices.
“I could only buy the most important items for my children to manage since our salaries in local government have not been paid.’’
Also corroborating Fatima Bello, a mother of two said she was appealing to the Federal government to help address the issue of hike in the prices of food items.
“I think the government should regulate the prices of all food items because a lot of people are using the opportunity to enrich themselves..
“Why should people just increase prices of raw food that they have in their shops before, not that they bought new ones,” she said.
Mrs Bello, appealed to traders to have the fear of God and not over increase the prices of their goods, especially food items.
“It is not easy for the masses to afford some of the foods because of the sudden increase; the government should somehow come to the aid of the masses.’’
Mallam Adamu Wanzam , a tomatoes seller said that the increase in the price of tomatoes and other ingredients was because the commodity was increased by the middlemen, which was worsened by the high cost of transportation.
‘’ Yes, people are now trooping to buy food items and it’s not our intention for the hike; before now a basket of tomatoes cost about N2000 or N2500, but today is sold at the cost of N4000, while the bag of peppe that used to be N3500 is now N5000, here in Yola,’’ said he.
Baba Adamu , a rice dealer at the Jalingo market said the price had to be increased because rice was becoming unavailable even from the warehouse.
“The rice I am selling now is a new one and I bought from someone to resell because I could not get from the company again.
“The truth is that if not for the panic buying, there will be food for everyone but some people just came to buy up what they do not even need just to store,” he said.
Investigations have shown that in some markets and shopping malls a bag of parboil rice is now being sold at N24000.
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