The Rivers State governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has announced partial lifting of the closure and ban on markets in Rivers State with effect from tomorrow.
Governor Wike in a broadcast last night said the lift of the ban is to enable residents of the State to shop for Easter and also replace their food stocks.
He said markets should be open on Tuesday April 7th and Wednesday April 8th 2020, from 7am to 12 noon. After those two days, the markets will be closed.
Wike however said that Oilmill market, Nbiama market, and Slaughter market at Trans Amadi remains closed.
The governor further said that security agencies has been directed to fish out and prosecute persons who have converted the bush for public slaughtering of Cows for the purpose of selling to the public.
This period of sit at home has subjected a lot of people to untold hardship especially as markets are closed. According to people interviewed, the hardship started immediately the Governor announced the close down of markets and restriction of movement in some parts of the capital city of Port Harcourt. The governor’s broadcast took all by surprise as every trader increases the prices of their wares.
Meanwhile, reactions are trailing, as the State Government planned to distribute food items to the less privileged in the state, to reduce the sufferings in the state.
A member of a Civil Society Organization Enefa Georgewill in an interview with our reporters commended the Rivers State Government for promising to distribute food items to Rivers people to cushion the effect of government shutting down businesses and staying at home order, as a result of Covid 19 pandemic raging the world. He said the distribution of food items should be monitored so as to ensure that the items are not diverted to party faithful.
