Three days after the closure of markets in Amuwo Odofin Local Government (AOLG) area in Lagos, following concerns about their non-compliance with the COVID-19 guidelines, about four markets have been reopened in the area.
The council on July 20, 2020, shut four markets in the local government areas as part of safety measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
The Chairman, AOLG Committee on COVID-19, Mr Olusegun Idris told newsmen in Lagos that the decision to reopen the markets came after a meeting between the council and the market leaders.
Idris who doubled as the Vice Chairman of AOLG, stated that the market leaders signed an undertaking to comply with all the safety protocols as regards COVID-19.
“They also agreed to set up a task force to ensure that things are done properly,” he said.
On her part, the Market leader at OpeOluwa Market, Agboju, Mrs Osinatu Adebayo, stated in a chat that the agreement to reopen the markets followed a commitment that traders would abide by the safety guidelines for the pandemic.
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Adebayo, who is also the overall leader of the foodstuffs markets within Amuwo Odofin, said that the leaders also agreed that traders will not sell to customers not wearing face masks.
She noted that one challenge they had with enforcing the use of face masks is with traders who couldn’t wear them for a long time due to medical reasons.
Also, the 23 Road Market Leader, Mrs Stella Cookie said that the main indictment by the council was on the use of face masks.
“Apart from the banners we put up, water and soap for washing hands, all the traders now have hand sanitiser and wear face masks.
“Now we have people who enforce the rules, even from the gates. We tell them to go if they don’t have face masks,” she said.
