COVID-19: Niger residents beat curfew to buy foods, others

By CHIWENDU NNADOZIE

The curfew imposed by Niger state government to check the spread of Corona Virus (COVID 19) in the state failed to command 100 percent compliance among citizens as some of them, including commercial motorcyclists and Tricycles operators defied the order and went about their normal businesses.

It was total compliant in some parts of Minna, the state capital, including areas along with the Abdulkadir Kure ultra-modern market, Obasanjo shopping complex, Mobil roundabout, Bosso and Western by-pass but different in some other parts of the metropolis.

The situation is however entirely different in places like Tunga/Chanchaga market, Minna and in Suleja, one of the commercial hubs nearer to Abuja as businessmen and women defy clampdown by soldiers to go out in search of their daily bread.

While pedestrians’ movements were not hampered, it was business as usual for some commercial motorcycle riders and petty traders who were spotted displaying their wares, especially dealers in food condiments along some road side markets within and around Minna metropolis.

Residents who spoke on the issue to the sharp disagreement between Governor Abubarkar Sani Bello who wanted the curfew for 8 am and 8 pm and that of Niger State House of Assembly who insisted on 5 pm and 8 am, citing compounding the hardship of the citizenry.

The state lawmakers had also as a follow up to their stand directed security agencies to be lenient on the citizens as they enforce the ‘restriction of movements’ order and not ‘curfew’ as directed by Governor Sani Bello.

Another reason that weakened the lockdown the order is a letter emanating from the office of the Secretary to State Government (SSG), indicating that the curfew with effect from Wednesday 25th March 2020 will be between 10 am to 5pm daily, till further notice. (Sunday Independent)