By Gabriel Atumeyi
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has ordered the closure of the popular Wuse market located in Wuse District, as well as UTC Shopping Centre and Morg Plaza, both in Garki District of Abuja, for non compliance with the Federal Government’s directives on COVID – 19.
Head of Publicity and Enlightenment of the FCT Ministerial Task Team on COVID-19, Ikharo Attah, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday, February 1, 2021.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who last Wednesday signed the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Health Protection Regulations 2021 as part of efforts to boost the COVID-19 response in the country, also frowned yesterday at the poor level of compliance by Nigerians.
The guidelines state that any person that contravened provisions of the regulations commits, upon conviction, risked a fine or a term of six months imprisonment or both in accordance with Section 5 of the Quarantine Act.
While addressing journalists at Eagles Square shortly after the presiding Magistrate of the mobile court set up to try defaulters, Idayat Akanni, gave the order, he explained that the decision was in line with the enforcement of the executive order of President Muhammad Buhari.
The Ministerial taskforce team explained that the affected markets violated all COVID-19 guidelines, hence the Magistrate ordered the closure.
It also added that about one hundred offenders were arraigned before the mobile court in Abuja for violating COVID-19 safety protocols, especially for failure to use face masks.
Fear of mobile court forces residents to use face masks
While the markets were sanctioned for not enforcing the regulations, many residents were seen complying with the Federal Government’s directives on COVI D-19 prevention measures by wearing their face masks and sanitising their hands.
When 365Daily went round the city to observe the level of compliance, it observed that many residents faithfully wore their face masks in public places including bus stations, on the streets and in public transport. The compliance, it later discovered, was due to the fear of being dragged before the FCT COVID – 19 task force which had a mobile court for defaulters stationed around Wuye District of the city.
Members of the task force were also seen doing patrols to enforce the directive.
Garki Market scores high on compliance as Utako, Kubwa, Dutse markets fail
At the popular Garki Market, 365Daily observed that without a facemask, entry into the premises was impossible as a team of security personnel were stationed at the main entrance with a loud speaker announcing, “Face mask, 20,000 or go to jail.”
One of the security personnel who spoke to our correspondent but did not want his name in print, said, “People are complying, we have this radio here broadcasting the measures and consequences from the start to the close of the market. So we have been here since 8.a.m.
“There is no other road into the market except this one. Any other road into the market has been blocked,” he said.
At the popular Area 10 UTC, many visitors told our correspondent that they were complying because of fear of the task force taking them to face a mobile court for breaking COVID-19 protocol.
On of such people, Ojo Michael stated, “As the Federal Government imposed it by force to wear nose mask and sanitise our hands, we are serious about it and the taskforce just left here arresting several people without nose masks and showing no care for precaution about the COVID-19 issue. So you can see that we are all wearing it.
But at the Utako market, there was no strict enforcement of the compulsory wearing of nose mask directive. Buyers and sellers conducted their businesses without a care. When our correspondent approached the market manager, G.B Galadima, about the issue, he disclosed that they had completed preparations to commence strict enforcement of the protocol.
He said: ”We just finished a meeting with the district police, the traders union and other officials. From tomorrow, we will commence strict implementation of the Federal Government’s directives. Utako Market stands as the head of all AMAC markets because this is where the chief market manager stays so whatever we start here spreads to other markets.
“We have the personnel and we will deploy them to all entry points with thermometer for temperature checks and running water and soap,” Galadima said.
The same scenario was witnessed in Kubwa and Dutse Markets in Bwari Area Council. There was no enforcement of FG’s directives by the market authorities and neither the traders nor the buyers were seen adhering to the guidelines.