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Tag: COVID-19 lockdown

  • COVID-19 lockdown: Traders switch to foodstuff business in Enugu

    COVID-19 lockdown: Traders switch to foodstuff business in Enugu

    Some traders in non food items in Enugu have switched to foodstuff businesses as the lockdown imposed by the state government to curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) persists, Daybreak reports.

    Daybreak recalls that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu had on April 1, imposed an initial 14-days lockdown on the state to contain COVID-19 and later extended it by another 14 days on April 15.

    The lockdown order, however, exempted essential workers and traders in food and medical consumables.

    Some of the traders  who switched over to foodstuff business told daybreak on Saturday in Enugu that they opted for the foodstuff business to save their families from hunger and depression.

    Mrs Cecelia Ude, a dealer in babies’ clothings at Ogbete Main market, who now sell garri and palm oil, said she w got frustrated staying at home with her family during the first two weeks of lockdown.

    Ude added that she was forced into the new trade by insufficient food and money for her family upkeep.

    “In fact, nobody told me to start foodstuff business at the New Market as hunger was about to set into my home.

    “I am happy doing this garri and palm oil business because it was almost difficult for me to feed my four children before I join the business,” she said.

    Miss Chioma Okoye, a dealer in kitchen utensils at Garki Market, who at the moment sells dried fish and crahfish, said that she went into foodstuff business for sustenance.

    “I did not waste time to switch over to foodstuff business immediately I heard that food items and medicine sellers should continue selling.

    “I changed to dried fish and crafish business, I got myself a table in front of my shop for the business,” Okoye said.

    Similarly, Mrs Uju Nebo, a fashion designer at Achara Layout,  said she started selling sweet potatoes and breadfruit generally called ‘ukwa’ in Igbo language outside her compound to assist her husband financially in the family.

    “I decided to go for sweet potatoes and ukwa because this is their season and I have already started experiencing huge sales in the business.

    “Since many women in my street are selling potatoes, I decided to add ukwa to my own business to make a difference,” Nebo said.

  • Lockdown: Hotels close shop in Port Harcourt

    Lockdown: Hotels close shop in Port Harcourt

    Some hotels in Port Harcourt have closed shop, following the outbreak of Coronavirus which has resulted in lockdown in Rivers.
    Visits by a Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to some parts of the city on Tuesday showed that many hotels were under lock and key.
    NAN recalls that the outbreak of COVID-19 in the state had resulted in closure of markets, schools, drinking joints, air traffic as well as the state borders.
    When NAN visited Echelon Height Hotel on Elekohia Road, which used to be a beehive of activities, it was firmed locked, with only security men seen manning the entrance.
    Other hotels in the city were also not open for business, while the usual hustle and bustle around them had vanished.
    Also, the ever-busy Presidential Hotel, which used to play host to different categories of guests and events, was enveloped with unusual calm, as no activity was taking place there.
    NAN also observed that the few hotels, which opened for business, witnessed low patronage, as their bars and swimming pools were without customers.
    A Port Harcourt-based economist, Mr Ugochukwu Nyenke, said that the outbreak of COVID-19 had been taking its toll on the hotel business in the state capital.
    According to him, the closure of borders and the ban on inter-state movement were negative signals to the hospitality industry.
    “The implication is that people will not come to the city, while those in the city have remained in their homes. And so, people will hardly need accommodation in any hotel.
    “The clubs and bars are places that require close contacts, and this is really not an auspicious time for such businesses to boom,” he said. (NAN)

  • COVID-19: NFC donates food items to Jos community

    COVID-19: NFC donates food items to Jos community

    In the wake of the lockdown imposed in Plateau by the state government to curb the spread of Coronavirus, the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has donated food items to its host community in Jos.

    Gov. Simon Lalong had on April 6, announced a total lockdown in the state for the fumigation of public areas such as markets, stadia, parks and others.

    The Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr Chidia Maduekwe, donated the food items to the community through its Chief, Adagwom Jos Izere, Jos North, Ada Ajik.

    Maduekwe said that the donation was a palliative to cushion the effect of the hardship being experienced by the people.

    “The situation is such that people have to be concerned about others, this is the time for mankind to come together to protect mankind as a whole.

    “For us, this is a symbolic demonstration of what the Federal Government has started at the top, we and some of our friends in the industry contributed into this kind gesture.

    “We chose this community because they host us, the permanent site of the NFC is here and we believe that charity begins at home, I consider this place my home.”

    Maduekwe stated that it was part of the corporation’s gesture was in tune with the Federal Government’s agenda during this period of COVID-19.

    He added that the items donated were to help cushion the effect that the lockdown would have on families in the area of feeding.

    He lauded the measures put in place by the State Government and how proactive the State had been in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Maduekwe charged citizens to adhere strictly to all measures given by government to stem the spread of the virus.

    The food items donated to the community were 200 bags of rice, 200 cartons of Indomie noodles and 200 cartons of cooking oil.

    The Adagwom Jos Izere Chiefdom thanked the NFC for its gesture, stating that the donation came at a time when his people needed it the most.

    He promised that the items would be distributed to everyone in the community.

    The chief urged everyone to remain at home during the lockdown and maintain good hygiene to stop the spread of the virus. (NAN)

  • COVID-19: Indian firm donates 1,000 cartons of noodles to FCTA

    An Abuja-based Indian firm, Tulsi Chanrai Foundation, has donated 1,000 cartons of noodles to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to support its efforts to cushion the effect of sit-at-home on the vulnerable.

    Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mr Shravan Kumar, presented the items to the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, on Friday in Abuja.

    Kumar said the donation was to support those at the “bottom of the pyramid” who were mostly affected by the lockdown in the nation’s capital.

    He also stated that the firm had developed a support package aimed at ensuring an efficient, effective and impactful response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    He explained that the package would be distributed with the support of the FCT administration’s personnel.

    “Controlling the COVID-19 pandemic is a mammoth task and involves some painful decisions.

    “Tulsi Chanrai Foundation is doing its bit to support the nation at this time of great need and offer help to the FCT Administration to succeed in fighting back the threat of the pandemic.

    “We at TCF are supporting food distribution, increasing awareness via printed handouts on how to control the spread of the disease and providing medicated soap to vulnerable households adversely affected by the measures instituted to control further spread of the pandemic in and around the FCT,” he said.

    He also said that each carton of indomie noodle contains a pack of milk and soap, adding that the interventions were critical change agents as they give the vulnerable a sense of self-control over their lives.

    Responding, Aliyu noted that Tulsi Chanrai foundation had demonstrated social responsibility to the Nigeria populace, especially in the areas of primary healthcare, safe drinking water and eye care services.

    She said that the firm’s response in the fight against COVID-19 in the nation’s capital would not be forgotten in a hurry.

    The minister also promised that the items would be taken to the vulnerable households in rural communities.

    Aliyu thanked the organisation for the gesture and called on other corporate bodies to do the same as government was doing everything possible to overcome the situation. (NAN)

  • COVID-19: Nasarawa residents decry hike in prices of food items

    COVID-19: Nasarawa residents decry hike in prices of food items

    Some residents of Nasarawa State have decried the spike in the prices of food items in the market over partial lockdown in the state in order to curtail the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

    Some of the residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews on Thursday in Keffi that the increase in the prices of goods have created more hardship to them.

    They called on traders not to take advantage of the partial lockdown in the state to increase the prices of commodities in order to cushion the effect of the lockdown.

    Mrs Litini Luka, a resident of Keffi, said: “It is unfortunate that in Nigeria, people take advantage of some situations to cause hardship on the people.

    “Just because of partial lockdown and directive by the government that people should stay at home over Coronavirus, traders took the advantage by increasing the prices of goods in the market.

    “Before COVID-19 directive by govrnment, a measure of local rice which is previously sold at between N300 and N350 is now sold about N450 and a measure of maize which previously sold at N120 to N130 is now sold between N160 and N170, while a bag of maize is now sold at N16,000 to N17,000 instead of N12,000 per bag.

    “A measure of Garri which was previously sold at N120 is now sold at N200 per measure.

    “You can see, we are facing the hardship created by Coronavirus and traders again are creating more hardship to us by increasing the prices of goods in the market; it is unfortunate,” she said.

    She called on the government to regulate the prices of food items in the market in order to improve on the living standard of the people and for the overall development of the country.

    Another resident, Mallam Abubakar Isah, called on the traders to have the fear of God in their trade.

    “Just imagine the prices of maize, rice, garri and beans, among others, had gone up. A measure of beans previously sold at N170 is now sold between N200 and N250 per measure; where are we going?

    “I want to use this medium to plead with traders to consider what Nigerians are going through at the moment, ” he said

    Mr Thomas Bulus lamented over unnecessary hike in the prices of goods in the market and called on government to regulate their prices.

    “The present situation in the country is uncalled for as the prices of almost all commodities have increased in the market. There is need for the Federal Government to checkmate as well as regulate the prices of goods in the market,” he said.

    Mrs Hauwa Isah also expressed dismay over the soaring prices of goods in the market.

    “We are facing COVID-19 problem and traders are taking advantage of lockdown directive which is not good at all. It is adding more hardship to people,” she said.

    However, most of the traders interviewed attributed the increase in the prices of commodities to transportation and scarcity of the products because of the restriction in movement order. (NAN)

  • COVID-19 lockdown: Compliance in Ogun encouraging – FRSC

    COVID-19 lockdown: Compliance in Ogun encouraging – FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), has said  that the 14-days lockdown embarked upon to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state is yielding positive result, as compliance by the people is encouraging.

    Mr Clement Oladele,  FRSC Sector Commander in Ogun, disclosed this in an interview with Our correspondents in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

    Oladele noted that it was important for the people to obey government directives,  saying it remained the best way to avoid the spread of the virus.
    He said that the only concern might be when the lockdown enters  into the 10th or 12th day,  saying people may start feeling restless and tired of staying at home.
    Oladele, however,  pleaded with the people not to relent in compliance as doing otherwise could wipe away all the earlier sacrifices of staying at home since the commencement of the lockdown order.
    “Being disciplined throughout this period will make everybody comply willingly,  without enforcement by the security agencies, this is key to making us defeat the pandemic and return to living our normal lives.
    “The citizens should be extra vigilant and report those few lawless members of our community that may attempt to flout the presidential directive on COVID – 19 restriction order.
    “The more we remain silent to such unlawful acts , the more, we the law abiding citizen will  be exposing ourselves to avoidable risks from COVID-19 pandemic .
    “The lockdown order , though may be denying us our freedom , but it is a necessary sacrifice which is  similar to what a pregnant woman in labour endures during childbirth but to later get relieved after successful birth of the child,” he said.
    Oladele  commended all FRSC Officers and Marshals working alongside other security agencies, toiling day and night to enforce the presidential directive.
  • COVID-19: Lagos markets record drop in prices of perishables food items

    COVID-19: Lagos markets record drop in prices of perishables food items

    One week after the restriction of movement in a bid to curtail the spread of COVID-19, prices of perishable food appears to be plummeting.

    This is according to a survey conducted by NAN in no fewer than ten markets including Mile 12, and Oyingbo, on Tuesday.

    NAN reports that a 40 kilogramme (kg) basket of tomato, which sold for N12, 000 immediately the lockdown was announced had dropped to N8, 000.

    Similarly, a 50kg basket of bell pepper (Tatashe) dropped from N10, 000 to N7, 000.

    The survey also showed that a 50kg Chilli pepper (Shombo) has now been pegged at N8, 000 instead of its former price of N10, 000.

    Also, the price of a jute bag of scotch bonnet pepper was equally affected as it dropped from N9, 000 to N7, 000.

    Mr Femi Odusanya, Spokesperson, Mile 12 Market Traders Association, attributed the situation to fear of depreciation of life of the items, adding that supply was now greater than demand due to the lockdown.

    “ Citizens are observing the movement restrictions as ordered by the government and this has also led to traffic in our markets,’’ he said.

    Odusanya explained that the prices of most perishable items had soared immediately the lockdown was announced due to increase in demand.

    He also said the time frame allotted for markets across Lagos might have been too short to stimulate greater demands for perishable food items, adding paucity of fund was also responsible for the downward slide of the demand graph.

    Odunsanya, therefore, urged the government to intervene by providing farmers and dealers of such items with some palliatives to cushion the effect of the losses.

    Malam Mauzu, a dealer of perishable food items in Oyingbo market confirmed the situation, saying that the high cost of transportation had increased the burden.

    “I would usually leave home as early as 4am and pay triple to transport my produce to get to the market only to sell them at very ridiculous prices,’’ he said.

    However, there seem to be exponential increases in prices of bags of sachet water, tomato paste and other food items like garri, yam flour and the likes.

    Mrs Funmilayo Makinde, a water retailer, said a bag of pure water which sold for N80 had increased to N150 at the last chain.

    She said retailers had before the shutdown bought the product at N80 and resold at N100.

    She attributed the increase to scarcity and increase in cost of getting nylons for packaging.

    Also, a carton of sachet tomato paste which sold for N2, 250 had soared to N3, 400.

    “No enough supplies of these items due to the restrictions and many stores are hoarding what they have and increasing the prices,” she said.

    The sharp drop in prices of perishable food items may not be unconnected with the neighbourhood markets constructed by the Lagos State Government to ameliorate the suffering of residents during the lockdown.

    However, the reported increases of prices of some other manufactured food items could simply be linked to interplay between high demands and hoarding which allowed prices to be determined by negative market forces. (NAN)

  • Violence mars distribution of free food in Kaduna

    Violence mars distribution of free food in Kaduna

    Residents of Narayi area of Kaduna have swooped over foodstuffs meant to be distributed to vulnerable people in the area, with members of the committee responsible for the distribution looking helplessly.

    The foodstuffs were being distributed by the Kaduna State Government to cushion the hardship facing indigent people as a result of the lockdown over Coronavirus.

    Chairman of the distribution committee, Malam Sule Garba said the incident took place on Monday evening at Narayi LEA Primary School.

    Garba, who is also the Village Head of Narayi, told NAN on Tuesday in Kaduna that a rowdy crowd of young men and women swooped over the foodstuffs and carted it away.

    He listed the food items as 170 cartons of spaghetti, and 1,250 cartons of indomie, 650 and 230 small bags of about three measures of rice and beans, as well as 800 gallons of vegetable oil.

    He explained that in the spirit of transparency, the committee offloaded the items at LEA Primary School Narayi, but shortly that, a massive crowd of women and children, majority of whom were young and agile youths flooded the venue to collect their share.

    He said that problem began when the committee became divided over the modalities to adopt in distributing the items, with everyone insisting on his idea.

    The village head said that while the argument persisted, some of the community members began handing over the food items to their families and friends.

    “We were distributing the foodstuffs, one item each to every beneficiary when we lost control of the crowed and boom! The exercise became free for all.

    “We did the best we could, but we were overwhelmed by the massive crowd of hungry people who want to get a share at all cost,” he said.

    He added that members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, who were there to provide the needed security and ensure successful distribution of the items, also joined in the struggle to get their share.

    “I am glad that no life was lost,” Garba said.

    Reacting to the allegation, one of the leaders of the Civilian JTF, Mr Silas Kure, said he was not aware of the involvement of his members in the brawl, but said that the allegation would be investigated.

    Also, Mr Yusuf Goje of Kaduna Social Protection Accountability Coalition, described the development as very unfortunate, and said the situation would have been prevented with good planning and proper coordination. (NAN)

  • COVID-19 Lockdown: Sen. Adeola donates N50m cash palliatives to constituents

    COVID-19 Lockdown: Sen. Adeola donates N50m cash palliatives to constituents

    As the COVID-19 lockdown in Lagos State continues, Sen. Solomon Adeola (APC Lagos-West) has donated N50 million cash for distribution among his constituents as part of relief measures.

    Adeola is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance.

    In a statement by his Media Adviser, Chief Kayode Odunaro and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, the donation would be distributed across the 10 Local Government Areas and 18 Local Council Development Areas of the senatorial district.

    According to the lawmaker,  the gesture is to complement the efforts of the Lagos State Government under Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu in ameliorating the hardship and inconveniences of the COVID- 19 lockdown.

    He further advised that as much as possible , Lagosians should abide by all precautionary measures by government to contain and eliminate the pandamic, especially  social distancing .

    ”In addition to all measures taken by the National Assembly as donation and palliative towards the fight against COVID-19, I deem it fit to go a step further in view of the huge population of the district and the many poor and vulnerable constituents.

    “I urge my constituents to see the donation as my contribution to lessen the inconveniences of the lockdown with a view to return of normalcy soon,” Adeola stated.

    He stated that he had set up a Six member committee across each LGAs and LCDAs to implement the cash disbursement in the senatorial district.

    The lawmaker further noted that the disbursement was targeted at the first instance, on 15,000 vulnerable individuals, families and groups.

    According to him, beneficiaries will be receiving sums ranging from N2,500 for individuals and  N250,000 for groups, based on needs.

    Adeola noted that the ugly incident of the COVID-19 and its trajectory in the country  had  further reinforced  the call on the Federal Government to grant Lagos State a special status and funding, in view of its population.

    He stressed that such gesture would ultimately be  in the national interest as the fight against COVID-19 had clearly shown.

  • Lockdown: FCT residents take to jogging to overcome boredom

    Lockdown: FCT residents take to jogging to overcome boredom

    Many residents of the Federal Housing Estate and Lugbe community, a satellite district of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have taken to jogging as a way to overcome boredom occasioned by the COVID-19 lockdown.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the exercise has become a daily event in the area since the Federal Government’s directive for a 14-day lockdown in the city, which entered its Eighth day on Tuesday.

    The directive, which ordered residents of the nation’s capital city to stay at home for the period of the lockdown, was part of government’s measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the area.

    Mr Charles Ugochukwu, a trainer at a local fitness centre, told NAN that it was his first time to see such a large number of people coming out to jog every morning.

    Ugochukwu said, “It has never happened and I think it is the lockdown that has propelled them to turn their interest to exercise, which is commendable.”

    He also said that prior to the lockdown, people who went out to jog in the community were usually few in number and hardly came out regularly.

    “It’s like you know their faces but this sudden influx of people getting fond of morning jogging and exercises on a daily basis, I think it’s because of the lockdown,’’ he said.

    A civil servant, Miss Patricia Imo, said that she developed interest in going out to jog every morning during the stay at home order of the federal government.

    “In fact, it all started after seeing my co-tenant going out to jog every morning.

    “I then asked him if he could take me along and he said he would, and I had to go and buy jogging shoes,’’ Imo said.

    Also, another civil servant, Ibrahim Adam, said the lockdown afforded him the opportunity to look into his health status and “burn out some fat.’’

    Mr Olatunji Alfred and his wife, Kehinde, both admitted the lockdown fuelled their desire for exercise as the situation afforded them the time to indulge in it.

    “We realised we suddenly had enough time due to the lockdown, therefore, we needed to take advantage of it by regularly going out to jog every morning,’’ Alfred said.

    The couple further said that apart from jogging, they also spend time playing badminton.

    Mr Chinedu Matthew also told NAN that he was motivated to take to regular jogging every morning due to the lockdown.

    “Four of my neighbours actually made me do it because by the time I get out of bed maybe by 8:30 in the morning, I would see them returning from jogging,’’ he said.

    Matthew, a trader at Wuse Market, said he had to develop the interest in physical exercise to keep himself refreshed all day, adding that it could be boring and frustrating to be home all day long.

    A banker, Miss Angela Harfeez, said she had to imbibe the culture of engaging in physical exercise every morning because of the lockdown.

    She said that before now she could not muster the courage to go for jogging on her own, even though she knew her body needed some physical exercise to keep fit.

    “But when my colleague invited me, I immediately went for it,’’ Harfeez said.

    The joggers cut across different strata of society and age brackets, including the elderly, middle aged, working class, professionals in different spheres and teenagers, among others. (NAN)