Following the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Delta state, chairman of Aniocha North local government area, Mr. Chuks Oseme, has declared to market women in the area that nobody will be allowed to buy and sell in any market without wearing facemask.
Oseme, who made the declaration at the popular Afor market on Tuesday at the Issele-Uku, the council headquarters, said that the action was to curtail the spread of coronavirus pandemic.
He said, “Though, our local government has not recorded any case of COVID-19, we must intensify efforts to ensure that the virus does not enter our area.
“We are here today to sensitize the market men and woman on the need to wear facemasks because from the next market day, anybody without facemask will not be allowed to enter the market.
“We have shared enough facemasks to virtually everyone in Aniocha North, so we expect everyone to wear facemask and observe the social distancing. No facemask no market in Aniocha North.
“Now, Mr president has given order to unlock all borders, so we are now having free movement of people coming to our market. Areas like Afor market serves as an epicentre for COVID-19 because it is a popular market where people from the East, South, West and even North come to buy and sell goods.
“By next market day, the taskforce will start enforcing use of facemasks and hand washing/sanitizer and anyone caught will be made to face the law. Any eateries, supermarket, filling station or other business centres that flout the order will be sealed up.
The council boss, while urging the taskforce not to extort money from any defaulters but should rather allow such person to face the law by paying the fine, stressed that COVID-19 is real, saying ” we should safeguard the people to safe yourselves”.
