By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Traders in Nnewi, Anambra State, have called on the State Government to avoid a repeat of the lockdown in the country in view of its socio-economic implications on them.

Markets in the state were forced to close for over one month following a lockdown order imposed on the state by Governor Willie Obiano after the announcement of a COVID-19 index case by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC).

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, Chairman of Old Motor Spare Parts, Nkwo, Chinedu Enyeribe, regretted that his association lost one of its members to hunger during the lockdown, adding that the kind of hardship the traders were exposed to in the course of the lockdown was unimaginable.

“The traders were doing their best since resumption to observe all the safety measures as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to stay alive and remain in business,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of Agboedo New Motor Spare Parts at Nkwo Nnewi, Dennis Ikegwuonu, explained that the leadership of the market opened only two major gates to the market to help the taskforce adequately man traffic.

He regretted that the practice of social distancing among the traders and their customers was a far cry despite the presence of taskforce at the major entry points to the markets to enforce safety measures.

Ikegwuonu said: “Governor Obiano had earlier in a meeting in Awka directed us to observe strict safety measures as a condition for easing up the lockdown.

“We have water, soap and sanitizers at the entry points to our markets and we make sure that all customers and traders wear their facemasks before being allowed to enter the markets.

“We are strict about that. And our stalls are spaced out to enable traders and customers observe social distancing.”

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