The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi says all food market in the state with history of dense population will remain closed until the Coronavirus pandemic is defeated.
Fayemi who spoke in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, said that the ban had become imperative, in view of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, and the need to fully enforce the social distancing order in such places.
The governor, speaking through his Special Advisers on Public Affairs and Media, Chief Nyi Ojo, and Mrs Mary Osho-Omotosho, respectively, said the new order would take full effect, on Thursday, when the government was expected to relax the curfew between 6:00am-2:00pm.
According to him, the markets to be affected in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, include the popular Oja Oba, (Kings Market), Bisi Market and Shasha market.
He said the measure was to safeguard the people from contracting the deadly virus, urging residents to patronize neighbourhood markets around their respective places.
According to him, the recent confirmed case of another COVID-19 case, who had over 70 contacts, had put the state on a high risk, considering the numbers of places and people she had contact with.
Fayemi appealed to the traders to adhere with the stay at home order and stop trading in markets places to avoid sanction by government.
He urged members of the public to bear with the government, explaining that the state government was aware of the inconveniences and hardship the lockdown had caused them, but said every step taken was in their best interest.