LG shuts down popular section of Enugu market over health concern
By The Eagle Online – March 26, 2020
Enugu State
Chief Emeka Onunze, Chairman of Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State, says the tomato section of Akwatta in Ogbete Main Market has been shut down due to health concerns.
Onunze told newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday that the shutting down took effect from March 24, adding that it would remain closed till further notice.
According to him, the move is in consideration of the realities of the Coronavirus pandemic.
“The development points to the council area authorities sustained commitment to enthrone basic standard hygiene in our neighbourhood,” he said.
Onunze said thought it was a painful decision, it must be done in view of the attendant health challenges the environmental condition of the tomato section portends for the wellbeing of the people.
“This decision was reached after due consultation with our environmental and community health workers that have been monitoring development at that section of the market,” he said.
The chairman urged both sellers and buyers in the section to comply with the directive, adding that the leadership of the council would meet with the sellers to find an alternative location to transact their businesses.
The council boss said he had drafted some council officials and security agents to see to the compliance of the shut down.
After attending several meetings and having contact with some confirmed cases of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), the Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, on Wednesday embarked on self-isolation The Governor, who said as a public figure he must have had contact with some confirmed cases of COVID-19, also advised members of the State Executive Council to do the same. The self isolation is also due to Governor Bello’s outing at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum meeting on March 18, which was also attended by his colleagues, among whom is also the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who has tested positive to the virus. According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mary Noel Berje, the Governor had already gone on to isolate himself, while tests would be conducted to know his status. According to the Governor in the statement: “Considering the fact that I was in Abuja the whole of last week to participate in the All Progressives Congress (APC) National meeting with the President, The Nigeria Governors Forum meeting, National Economic Council meeting and the World Bank break fast meeting, as a way of leading by example, I have placed my self on isolation and waiting to be tested, along with members of my family.” He acknowledged the directive of the Nigeria Governors Forum for all Governors that attended some meetings to go into self-isolation along with their close aides and people they had contact with. Meanwhile, the Governor has directed that all his close aides and all cabinet members subject themselves to self isolation. The statement also called on the general public not to panic as the measure so far put in place by the government was for containment of the pandemic, stressing that it was not meant to punish Nigerlites but to help and protect the welfare and lives of the citizens. The statement therefore enjoined the people to embrace simple personal hygiene as well as precautionary measures taken by the State Government.
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