Residents of the State of Osun have called on government to lift the three-day weekly lockdown so as to avert the crash of small scale businesses in the state.
Artisans and Small Scale business owners who spoke to TheSource
in Osogbo on Thursday stressed the need for the easing of the lockdown so as to enable them engage in business activities from Fridays to Sundays while maintaining the 5pm-6am curfew.
Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in his last address to the people of the state announced the decision of government to allow businesses run from Mondays to Thursdays under a 5pm-6am curfew with total lockdown from Fridays to Sundays to curtail the spread of Coronavirus.
As at press time, there are 44 cases of COVID-19 in the State of Osun with 35 recoveries and 4 deaths according to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) statistics.
Speaking with TheSource, the chairman of the traders association at the New Orisunmibare Market, Osogbo, Dr Isaac Adeboye urged Governor Oyetola to allow people run their business activities throughout the days of the week while maintain the current curfew status.
Adeboye explained that “If government allows residents to use remaining three days observing the curfew from 5pm to 6am, it will allow people to do their businesses comfortably.”
He added that the ease of the current lockdown arrangement will put an end to queues in banks.
The market leader commended the state government for taking proactive measures to curbing the spread of the deadly disease urging them to continue in the direction of adequate sensitization.
Adeboye said, “I go in-line with popular demand of the people that government should allow traders and artisans to engage in regular activities for all working days including weekends.”
“People should be allowed to go on Sunday while maintaining social distancing. I do not also subscribe to the resumption of congregational meetings.”
Dr Adeboye charged security agencies to stop the influx of people into the state, saying the border closure has proved to be ineffective as people come into the state daily from other parts of the country.
However, the chairman of Ajegunle Trade Men and Artisans Association, Alhaji Azeez Kamorudeen lamented that the measures taken so far to stem the tide of the Coronavirus pandemic has taken a negative toll on their business, urging Oyetola to ease the remaining three days of lockdown to enable them operate effectively.
Kamorudeen appealed to residents to cooperate with government stressing that their association has introduced taskforce to checkmate their members in following the precautionary measures to contain the spread of the pandemic.
