Enugu: Why Akwata Market Remains Closed After Ogbete’s Re-opening – Eze

Hon John Okechukwu Eze is the Caretaker Committee chairman of Ogbete Main Market Traders’ Association, Enugu. In this interview with CHINEDU AROH, he talks about the reopening of the market, Covid-19 preventive measures in the market as well as elections of officials of the traders’ association. The excerpts.

What is being done to ensure smooth re-opening of Ogbete Main Market?

On the 2nd of June, 2020, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi re-opened the market after holding meetings with the stakeholders on the need to strictly abide by the safety guidelines of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, in the market. I also want to state that the market was hitherto closed for a month to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. In the second month, it was partially re-opened, that was on May 4, to allow the sale of essential commodities, such as food items and pharmaceuticals. His Excellency also considered the cries of traders; some of them had their businesses shut for months. He had earlier tasked the executives of the traders to hold talks with heads of commodities for re-opening of the market in line with health principles to avert the spread of the virus, which was done preparatory to this re-opening.

How are the traders abiding by the safety rules?

First of all, we thank Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for various measures he has adopted in this market. We also pledge to abide by the NCDC’s safety guidelines. They include wearing of face masks, maintenance of social distancing, use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers, regular washing of hands, among others. We also received palliatives. We have placed water tanks at every entrance into the market where those coming in and living the market must wash their hands with soap and also apply sanitisers. The containers are operated with feet. Again, every shop must make provisions for same. Defaulters will be fined. We already have an enforcement committee on this matter, and we are going to have more sub-committees. We also thank the chairman of Enugu North LGA who also helped a lot. Be informed also that the market did not open the day it was re-opened. First, we called heads of every unit. We held a meeting, and agreed on the basics before various shops can reopen fully. So, they will disseminate the information to all their members.

How would you ensure that basic hygiene is observed in the market?

We have declared this Friday a general clean-up day in this market – 8am to 12 noon. Everybody must come out to do the cleaning of the market. More than three persons in a shop at a time is not allowed, and our sub-committees go from shop to shop.

What is the fate of Akwata section of the market?

If you go to Akwata now, you won’t like what you see there. This rainy season makes it even more difficult. That is why the traders have moved outside the place. His Excellency agreed to do a concrete pavement, not asphalting, in Akwata. It will start next week. Once the work is done, the traders there will return. The traders need to exercise some patience. Once more, Akwata section of the market has not been relocated or sold off as some people try to misinform the public. If Akwata is relocated, what then becomes Akwata? It is in the interest of the traders. We are happy with various measures being taking at Akwata.

Tell us about the resumption of the Traders’ Empowerment Scheme in the market?

His Excellency is the first governor to start this empowerment scheme in the whole of Nigeria. It continued during the election till the middle of last year. It would have commenced again this year, but this COvid-19. But he re-assured us that it would start this month. We are already in talks with the state ministry of commerce and industry. The permanent secretary of the ministry has already requested the data of all the traders in Ogbete Main Market. We are already working on that. It will be a virtual exercise. The draw will be monitored through phones to avoid human clusters. Apart from the empowerment, the state govern