In its own way of ensuring traders adhere to COVID-19 precautions in markets, Iyaloja of Ibadan land, Alhaja Oyinlola Ameringun has said traders found not wearing face masks in markets risk suspension.
Ameringun who made this disclosure on Thursday said a COVID-19 task force has been set up in all 69 markets in Ibadan to caution and reprimand traders who operate in markets without using their face masks.
Speaking when she led some market women to receive COVID-19 relief packages from the wife of Oyo State governor, Mrs Tamunomini Makinde, Ameringun added that their task force also ensured that all markets had functional handwashing points.
She praised the decision of Governor Seyi Makinde not to close markets, noting that most of the traders lived on what they sold daily.
With the distribution for Thursday having representatives of five markets present, Ameringun prayed that Mrs Makinde extends the palliative to more markets.
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“We have informed the traders that the state government will not hesitate to close markets that don’t adhere to COVID-19 precautionary measures. So, we have set up a COVID-19 task force in each market.
“They are to ensure that handwashing facilities are at the entry and exit of their market. The task force also goes around their respective markets and will suspend any trader found not using face masks away from the market,” Ameringun said.
State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Sanni, who gave out the packages on behalf of Mrs Makinde, assured that the gesture will be extended to other markets.
She explained that the distribution was being done in phases in compliance with social distancing rule and to prevent convergence of the crowd at a point.
In her remarks, Sanni admonished the market women to adhere to health guidelines of constant hand washing, ensuring they stay in a clean environment, maintain social distancing especially from persons coughing or sneezing constantly and report themselves to the hospital if sick.
Market women from New Gbagi, Agbeni, Agbaje, Ogunpa, Bodija benefited from the distribution billed to be subsequently done for traders in other markets.
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