Awka – In keeping with the Anambra state government commitment towards eradication and management of coronavirus pandemic, Governor Willie Obiano has approved the installation of solar powered disinfectant machines in all the major markets in the state.
On Monday, at Building Materials International Market, Ogidi, the State Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Hon. Uche Okafor performed the official inauguration of the use of the machine.
Inaugurating the machines, Hon. Okafor said the initiative was borne out of the state government’s desire to safeguard the lives of citizens and residents of the state.
According to him, the markets represent one of the places with very high rate of virus transmission and the disinfectant machines will help, reduce the spread drastically.
“When the first wave of the virus happened last year, as a government, we decided to lockdown the markets because they are places where the virus can spread easily. But the impact was very severe on our people and that’s why we are thinking of a way we can have our markets open but get our people to comply with the protocols for their own safety,” he said.
Okafor commended the building materials traders for observing the safety protocol and noted that the machine will help in fighting off the virus.
On his part, the President of Building Materials International Market, Chief Jude Nwankwo applauded the state government for coming up with the initiative.
Chief Jude appealed to traders and customers alike to always make use of the machine for the benefit of everyone.
“It is heartwarming that government has considered our plight and is not thinking in the direction of shutting down the markets. The onus lies now on the traders to reciprocate this gesture by ensuring that the markets do not contribute to the spike in positive COVID-19 cases in the state,” he noted.
