In a bid to remain in business after closure of markets by the Rivers State Government, as one of the ways of curtailing the Covid-19 Pandemic, some petty traders have created what seems to be mobile market, National Network has learned.
Our reporter gathered that the traders in alleged connivance with ‘area boys’ stationed at some hidden points as early as 4:30am begin to trade until 7:00am before they would close for the day.
Our source revealed that the closing time for the market is fixed at 7:00am because of the notion that the State and local Government Covid-19 monitoring team on closure of markets may not have resumed for the day by that time.
The source disclosed that apart from Sundays that the mobile markets last till 9:00am as it is believed that the members of Covid-19 enforcement will attend church service before resuming for the day, the market closes by 7:00am every day.
Our reporter gathered that the traders bring quantity of goods they can run away with in case the Covid-19 enforcement team on market closure storms the place. The source explained that whenever the market is busted by task force on market closure, the traders relocate to another venue the same day and continue in that manner.
Checks by National Network showed that some of the mobile markets at Lumbuba/Timber, Ojoto lane, Azikiwe lane, Wokoma lane, Elechi lane all in Diobu, were busted by the Rivers State and Port Harcourt Local Government Council Task Force last Saturday and goods belonging to traders were impounded while other goods (foodstaff) that the task force could not impound for want of space in their vehicle were condemned with kerosene.
A trader who gave her name as Peace Maduka told our reporter that if they do not make daily sales they will not be able to feed their family. She lamented the hardship they were going through as a result of the market closure.
