From Osagie Otabor, Akure
Traders in Akure, Ondo State capital, have refused to stay at home as directed by Governor Oluwrotimi Akeredolu.
Many did not open but sat in front of their shops, hoping the police would not enforce the restrictions.
Ojo-Oba market was shut. Those selling essential commodities were allowed to sell in a street adjacent the market.
Some traders sneaked buyers into their shops. Traders dealing with rubber sandals and other non-essential commodities displayed their ware.
Many refused to speak but some said they ‘cannot stay back at home’.
“We earn money everyday unlike those who collect salaries. How do we pay for shops at the end of the year?”
A cart pusher, Ali, said business had been bad as he was yet to make money as at 11 am, unlike previous days when he would have made over N1,400.
Police vans were parked in strategic positions in Akure.
The spokesman, Tee-Leo Ikoro, said police divisions had been mobilised to ensure compliance. Anyone refusing to go home would be arrested, he said.
The government vowed to enforce compliance with the restriction order and other measures to contain the pandemic.
Commissioner for Health Dr Wahab Adegbenro, who addressed an inter-ministerial committee for an update on COVID-19, said the measures were precautionary seeing that neighbouring states had confirmed cases.
This, he said, called for enforcement of rules to prevent an outbreak in the state.
Read Alo: COVID-19: Ondo traders refuse to stay at home
Adegbenro directed offices; public and private, to provide wash stations and alcohol-based hand sanitisers.
The government also restricted interstate travels, shut markets and directed civil servants from Grades Level 1 to 12 to stay at home.
Adegbenro said the government was also working to establish screening centres in the three senatorial districts to combat the spread.
Chairman of the Governor’s Special Taskforce Dr Doyin Odebowale decried the non-compliance of over 40 per cent of religious groups to the measures to restrict gathering for services.
He warned that the government would deal with any group or individual flouting the order, saying school owners disobeying the closure were sanctioned.
Akeredolu’s security aide, Jimoh Dojumo, likened the outbreak to a war situation, saying people’s rights might be trampled upon in the course of safeguarding life and health.
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 300 operatives for emergency response and enforcement of the stay-at-home order.
Commandant Phillip Ayuba, who addressed a news conference, said the personnel were drawn from 19 divisional offices in the state.
Ayuba said the personnel would be on a 24-hour patrol of markets, malls, motor parks, churches, mosques, clubs and hotels, to curtail social gathering above 20 persons.
The patrols would be carried out in collaboration with officials of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), he said.
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