An Eyesore at Ogebete Main Market, a misconception of partial reopening

The Enugu State Government has expressed disappointment over the unconscientious breach of condition for the partial and guided reopening of Ogbete Main Market, Enugu.

This is contained in a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Nnanyelugo Chidi Aroh.

“Recall that on the 1st of May 2020, the Enugu State Government after a meeting with Ogbete Main Market leaders and Security agencies approved a partial and guided opening of Ogbete Main Market in the overall interest of the people of Enugu.

The resolution to re-open the market was made upon the plea and undertaking by the leaders of Ogbete Main Market Traders Association and Ogbete Pharmaceutical Dealers Association to strictly abide by the protocol issued by the Nigerian Centre of Disease Control which includes the observance of social/physical distancing, high level of personal hygiene and the compulsory use of face masks.

Unfortunately, the events of today at Ogbete main market was a total disregard and breach of the undertaking made by the Ogbete Main Market Traders Association and the Pharmaceuticals Dealers Association.”

The State Government had earlier given vivid conditions which the people must adhere to, to ensure the health  safety of the good people of Enugu State as signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya. 

“The schedule for the partial and guided opening of the Market is as follows:

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 8am-2pm Daily
i. Pharmaceutical Dealers.
ii. Provisions.
iii. Restaurants

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 8am – 2pm Daily
i. Wholesale Food Dealers.

Other resolutions reached at the meeting, according to the statement, are:

• That the Market is open to shop owners only, to enable them serve their customers outside the Market.

• That under no circumstance shall customers be allowed to enter the Market. 

• That the Akwatta Section of the Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, remains closed. 

• That all shop owners entering the Market must wear protective face masks, maintain/observe proper personal hygiene and physical/social distancing protocol as stipulated by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), including regular hand washing with soap or sanitizer. 

• That for the avoidance of doubt, no customer is allowed to enter the Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, except shop owners, who will only act as vendors to their customers outside the Market. 

• That the security agencies are hereby directed to enforce these decisions and any violation will be dealt with according to law. 

• That these measures will be renewed on a weekly basis.”

But the market witnessed a mammoth crowd of inexplicable dimension who disrupted all conditions stated by the State Government and made the day a horrific noncompliance to order and mire exposure to the deadly COVID-19 Pandemic.

Mr Aroh in his statement emphasised that while the State Government do not intend to take immediate action, the market authorities are expected to enforce a complete adherence to the resolution earlier met and warned that further breach of the condition may attract closure of the market in order to protect the people of Enugu State from the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“The State Government is seriously concerned about the implications of this breach to the overall health and safety of the citizens of Enugu in this critical period of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Therefore, the Ogbete Main Market Trader Association and the Pharmaceutical Dealers Association are hereby directed to strictly abide by the conditions for the partial and guided opening of the market.

The State Government will act swiftly to protect the health and safety of the people of Enugu in the event of any further breach of the conditions for the partial and guided opening of the market.”