Edo State Government yesterday in Benin said that it would commence the relocation of all markets to primary schools and proceed with fumigation of markets to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, made this known while addressing market leaders, police and the state Public Work Volunteers (PUWOV) at Government House in Benin yesterday.
Shaibu said that the reason for the relocation was that the traders and buyers were having problems in observing the social distance directive.
“We need to resolve these issues we are having in market places. We observed that while churches and mosque had obeyed the directives of government, we are having major problem at the market places.
“We are not maintaining social distance and it’s becoming very embarrassing to the government. It’s giving us so much worry; this virus can spread easily in crowded places.
“We want to make sure that markets are opened and at the same time achieve the social distance among us.
“The government also wants to also fumigate the markets. For us to fumigate the markets, obviously we have to lock all the markets because we cannot fumigate the market while you are there.
“We don’t want to shut down the markets completely, because we want our people to have easy access to buying of foodstuffs”, he said.
Reacting to the absence of Gov. Godwin Obaseki, the deputy said that he was observing the normal 14 days isolation, saying that “the governor is hale and hearty.”
In her remarks, the leader of Edo Market Women Association, Mrs Blacky Ogiamen, commended the government for the bold steps taken in containing the spread of the coronavirus in the state.
Ogiamen urged government to increase its awareness campaign on the relocation and fumigation of markets.
She called on security agencies in the state to take steps in ensuring that the commercial drivers obey rules and regulations put in place by government in fighting COVID-19.