Forum of Akwa Ibom Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, on Tuesday called on the state government to bring back traders to their stalls in the markets and enforce social distancing and the compulsory use of face masks as parts of measures for curbing covid-19 pandemic in the state.
Major Markets in the state such as Akpan-Andem and Itam have remained closed for over three weeks now due to the Quarantine and Restriction of Movement order 2020.
The state governor, Udom Emmanuel during a media chat on Monday said total lockdown in the state would not be relaxed until covid-19 situation in the state improves and contained to a certain level assuring that he will brief the people soon.
But the CSOs in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr Harry Udoh and the Secretary, Dr. Nsekpong Udoh respectively, said after observing the dense population of human beings in the make shift markets around adjoining streets of the main markets, who were not observing principle of social distancing, concluded that it would be better if government returns traders to their stalls in the market.
CSOs added that enforcement of social distancing and the compulsory use of face masks in the markets would complement the efforts of the state government to keep Covid-19 at bay than the compact nature of the road side markets.
The statement reads in parts, “The markets – Akpan Andem and Itam – have been closed by government but the traders have been allowed trade on adjoining roads. For Itam Market, the
Calabar-Itu Road running from the point close the overhead bridge at Ikot Ekpene Road to about one kilometer into the Calabar-Itu Road, where one lane of this dual Carriage way has been converted to a market, and at Akpan Andem Market, the whole Johnson street and part of Udo Umana Street spanning the breath of the market.
“In both situations, social distancing protocol has not been adhered to. And we observe it will be difficult to respect the social distancing protocol under the circumstances.
“It was also observed that there were toll collectors going about both markets to collect tolls and levies at a time like this. We
therefore call on government to return the traders to their stalls in the markets
and enforce social distancing and the compulsory use of face mask.”
The CSOs however lamented that the state government has refused to give passes to their members to enable them Carry out their duties at this time despite repeated entreaties especially to the office of the Secretary to the State Government.
They further lamented that people in the rural communities were largely unaware of covid-19 and have continued with their normal lives in breach of the health protocols at this time, this according to them was due to poor sensitization and awareness creation.
On the state’s palliative/relief materials recently shared, the CSO observed, ”while some communities found ingenuous ways to enable the state government’s
palliative/relief materials get to the poor of the poor while trying to accommodate every household in their communities, the relief materials were
largely inadequate.
“We call on government to review the mode and means of reaching the vulnerable in the state. We also observed in some villages single female head of households were
excluded from the sharing of the palliatives. This clearly raise issues of gender
disparity.”
“Generally, the lockdown is being observed in the breach as citizens in the bid to
feed their families are going about looking for ways and means to feed their families. It is either the government eases the lockdown or find ways and means of reaching vulnerable citizens with palliatives to ameliorate the burden of families at this time.” CSO added.
