The Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has directed that all markets in the state that do not sell essential commodities, such as foodstuff, medicine, medical equipment and water, be closed down effective from 5.00 pm Thursday, March 26th, 2020.
This is in a bid to curtail the spread of the dreaded coronavirus, COVID-19 in the state by ensuring that citizens observe the social distancing practice, among other measures.
The governor’s directive was contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, in Ado-Ekiti, on Wednesday, directing all medicine stores that are open to the public not to sell or display any other items whatsoever, while those selling food stuffs should not display or sell anything outside food stuffs.
In a related development, Governor Fayemi has appealed to commercial drivers and the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, in the state to reduce the outrageous fares being charged commuters, especially students who have been returning home in their numbers, following the closure of schools in
the state, occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19. This is just as he also appealed to pharmacy stores not to hike the prices of essential drugs.
Meanwhile, the statement reminded members of the public of the ban on gatherings that are above 20 persons, either for social, communal or religious purposes, as a monitoring and enforcement task force has been dispatched across the state.
Governor Fayemi urged all citizens in the state to join hands with the government and its agencies in the collective war against the coronavirus.
