The Leaders of Eke-Awka Main Market have appealed to the Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano to temper justice with mercy by re-opening the market which was closed on his orders for non-compliance with COVID-19 protocols.
It will be recalled that Eke-Awka market was closed down last week on the orders of the State Government for non-compliance with COVID-19 protocols.
Curfew within Awka South, the Council Area housing the market was also reverted to 8p-6am.
In a press statement issued on Friday by the Chairman, Eke-Awka Market Traders Association, Chief Emeka Jude Agumadu, the market leaders said the problem of non-compliance with COVID-19 protocols was with some traders and buyers who do not believe that the virus exists anywhere, stressing that efforts made earlier were not strong enough, hence the closure by the Government.
The statement however assured that stringent measures have been put in place to ensure strict compliance with the directives and other World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on containment measures for the spread of the virus.
“We the management of the market are doing all we can to ensure 100% compliance and we have also re-energised our Covid-19 Taskforce to stand at every point of the market to ensure that both traders and visitors comply to the guidelines. I am also using this opportunity to warn everybody that all protocols must be observed when coming to Eke-Awka market. If you have any intention of coming to the market, whether you are a trader or a customer, be ready to comply or forget about coming close to the market or its environs,” Agumadu warned.
He also added that arrangements has been made to provide water and soap as well as hand sanitizers at every gate or entrance for people to use before they could enter the market.
Chief Agumadu also disclosed that all the market lines and women leaders have been directed to ensure that adequate measures were put in place in their various lines to avoid the repeat of what led to the market closure.
He further explained the confusion about Eke-Awka market and street shops, citing that Eke-Awka is on total shutdown while street shops that are far from Eke-Awka environ might be open because it is not under the supervision of Eke-Awka Market Association.
He, therefore, appealed to the Governor to kindly reconsider his position in shutting down the market and order reopening because of the suffering of the traders especially those of perishable items who recently came out of nationwide lockdown and re-stocked their shops.
