By Ijendu Iheaka
Aba (Abia) – Aba residents have started gradual lock down of the city following the state government’s plan for a lock down from Wednesday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports.
NAN reports that Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu on March 24, endorsed a set of directives meant to check spread of Corona virus (COVID-19) in Abia.
The directives included buses taking fewer passengers and traders procuring hand washing materials for customers at their shops and stalls.
Some shops in the city along Faulks, Azikiwe and St. Michael’s roads, have been shut in compliance with the directive that residents stayed at home to guard against contracting the disease.
Ekele Nwannennaya, a trader who deals on foreign furniture on St. Michael’s road, said he had closed his shop because he had to keep safe adding that it was better to be alive and poor, than to die in wealth.
Our Correspondent who went round some parts of the city on Monday, reports that the tricycles and vehicles operating within Aba have started complying with government’s directives to take few passengers.
Livinus Okezie, a commuter who spoke to NAN said; “the transporters are now taking double the fare they used to collect from us before now.
“As you can see, very few persons are now on the roads and like myself, I am going to buy what my family will eat from Wednesday when Abia goes on lock down. I will be indoors with my family”, he said.
Blessed Investment motors limited and Eagle Motors limited staff, were seen selling tickets to travelers to Lagos state on Monday morning after reports said that Anambra and Delta had shut the Niger Bridge gates.
Andrew Iheanyi, a worker at Eagle Motors bus park, Milverton Street, Aba, said; “we are selling ticketS hoping that if the security agencies at Onitsha will allow us to pass, we will pass, but if they do not, we know what to do.”
Iheanyi said however, they were recording low number of travelers, but the company was offering its services to ensure those wishing to travel did so.
NAN reports that banks in the city were recording large numbers of customers rushing to withdraw money to buy foodstuff for their families prior to Wednesday’s lock down.
First Bank and Union Bank, on Azikiwe road, Ecobank on St. Michael’s road and First Bank, Asa road, were all crowded with customers observing the social distancing directive.
(NAN)
