Following the directive issued by the Rivers State government that markets should be opened to the public, to cushion the effects of food scarcity among the people of the state, residents of Port Harcourt and its environs have taken advantage of the two days allowed by government to restock their food items a home.
It would be recalled that as a result of confirmation of coronavirus case in the state, the Rivers State governor, Barr. Ezenwo Iyesom Wine had issued a sit-at-home order on the residents of the state through media broadcast, in order to successfully effect a social distancing protocols and check the spread of the pandemic.
Governor Wike, after assessing situation on ground and the need to give respite to people in the face of looming hunger had directed that major markets in the state be opened to the public, apart from that of Slaughter and Oil Mill in Port Harcourt. The governor, in his address had directed that popular stalls and markets be opened from 7:00 am to 12:00 noon ( Tuesday and Thursday)
According to a survey by the National Network, the two days concession saw residents trooping out to shop for food, leading to serious traffic at the routes linking the major markets, especially that of Rumuokoro, Mile 3 and Mile 1 markets.
Our checks also revealed an upsurge in the demand for banking services, including the use of the ATM. Many bank customers were seen clustering around the ATM machines, mainly close to the markets stalls. It was discovered that the social distancing measure was disregarded by many as bank security personnel had a raw deal coping with the number of customers around their premises.
Speaking on the development, a retired civil servant, Elder Anthony Mark argued that the very reason behind the sit-at-home order had been defeated by the sheer number of people who came out for shopping. He expressed fear that the turn out of residents at major markets could result in catastrophe if anybody was found to be a carrier of COVID-19.
Elder Anthony stated that government should have come up with measures that would make it impossible for buyers and sellers to cluster around the marketplace.
Another resident who commented on the two days opening of the market in the state, Marian Uchegbum, said that she was delighted with the change of heart by the government, which she reasoned was not unconnected with the forthcoming Easter Celebration. But she expressed her preference for an arrangement that allows people to shop for basic commodity items everyday. “You can see that it is because we just have two days for shopping everywhere is rowdy. If it is regulated on daily basis, there would not be any need to create panic buying. You can see that people were only concerned about what to eat and not particular about coronavirus infection in the market. I was at the ATM we were pushing ourselves back and forth. Where is the social distancing again? Let God just safe us the way we handle it here”.
But a closer look at the way shopping for food items were conducted indicated that some choppers defied the deadline of 12:00 noon ,just as many were seen around the gates of the market stalls pleading with officials at Mile One. However, the entrance to Mile one market close the Mile One police station was shut down at about 11: 50 am ,in compliance with the closure deadline. At Mile 3 Market, the entrances were put under lock and key by some 15 minutes to the deadline.
In his reaction, Clement Udoh, a student of the Rivers State University appealed to the government to continue to allow markets to open on weekly basis. But, he also appealed to the government to roll out the planned palliatives as the Easter holidays approach. He argued that if this is done on time, people would not be anxious or panicky about what next, according to him food is key to human survival.
