COVID-19: Enugu Residents Make Last Minute Purchases Ahead 6pm Lock-down

Ahead of the closure of all state boundaries, markets and inter-state transportation effective from 6pm, today, March 31, 2020 in Enugu State, the residents are in eleventh hour transactions at markets and banks, with most of them expressing fears over what the next two weeks would look like.

THE WHISTLER visited the Ogbete Main Market, and banks located at Okpara Avenue, all in Enugu, where residents were seen shopping and trying to beat the deadline.

A buyer, Mary Okwudili, said she was buying basic needs for the upkeep of her family within the period of the lock-down.

According to her, “There is nothing one can do except to obey the rules. It is a matter of life, and all precautions must be applied. It
is a pain of necessity, after all China used the same and survived the pandemic.”

Elder Anayo Christian, dealer in foodstuffs, said, “The market is moving very fine. People must buy food. They cannot do without
feeding. Even though food selling is not banned, but when the market is closed, where do we sell? The prices increased because we now pay more to transport the goods to the market.”

At First Bank on Okpara Avenue, customers were seen queuing up to withdraw money while observing reasonable distances. A customer who does not want his name mentioned told our correspondent that, “We
don’t have any option. My fear is that there is no money. I believe government will find some palliatives for us.”

The rush has however increased cost of transportation by about fifty percent. Cost of foodstuffs also increased, with a bucket of gari going for over N1000 as against its former N400.

Keke ridersinterviewed said the increase in the transport fare is because of the reduced number of passengers being carried as a result of social distancing.

Recall that the Enugu State government exempted those dealing in food items, water, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and other basic items
from the shutdown.

However, they are directed to comply with the standard hygiene protocols as stipulated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), including frequent hand washing with soap, use
of sanitizers and social distancing.