The Lagos State Government, on Thursday, urged shoppers at its COVID-19 Emergency Food Markets to always observe social distancing and regular hand washing to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Prince Gbolahan Lawal stated this while on a monitoring tour of the Easter edition of the market at Fagba Junior High School, Iju-Ishaga; Meiran Community Primary School, Meiran and Papa Ajao Nursery and Primary School, Mushin, Lagos.
The Commissioner, who spoke through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Olayiwole Onasanya said that the government has made provision for soap and water as well as hand sanitisers in all the 27 designated markets.
He advised people to observe the rules and regulations laid down by the government as they go out to shop for their food and daily needs.
In his words, “I am impressed with what we have seen so far in all the markets we have visited today. We have gone to about three markets so far and what we have seen is that people were well mobilised. We can see people going in and out, buying whatever they need for their families as well as haggling over prices, which happen in normal markets”.
“We are, however, emphasising on social distancing, washing of hands before entering into the markets and also on your way out; we have provided hand sanitisers, soap and water. And what we have also noticed between the buyers and the sellers is that social distancing is observed”, he added.
Lawal reiterated the State government’s commitment to improving the lives of Lagosians through various palliative measures to ameliorate the suffering of the people during the period of the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He explained that the markets have been set up very close to the people, as such they do not need to walk more than 100 or 200 meters to the markets, adding that the market is also an avenue for the people to stock their homes for one or two weeks.
Residents of the area where the designated markets were located trooped out to the COVID-19 Emergency Food Markets to make last-minute purchases ahead of the Easter celebration and commended the State government for its visionary leadership to set up the markets closer to the people, describing them as a well-thought-out initiative.
JL/TMS/OS
