Oyo to shut markets over non-compliance with precautionary measures

Oyo State Government yesterday threatened to shut down indefinitely markets that fail to comply with its safety directives aimed at preventing the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The state task force team on COVID-19 gave the warning during an inspection tour of Bodija international market, Moniya and Sasa markets respectively.

While sensitising the traders at the markets, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, expressed mixed reactions to the level of compliance by the traders.

He said the level of compliance witnessed at the various markets was not 100 per cent and warned that any erring markets would be shut during another unannounced visit if the compliance level remains low.

Also speaking during the inspection tour, the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security Matters, Fatai Owoseni, implored all the traders to provide sanitation items at strategic points at the markets or face indefinite closure.

Fielding questions from journalists during the inspection tour, the Babaloja and traders at the markets inspected, unanimously expressed their readiness to comply with the directives of the state government.

Makinde had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to all market leaders in the state to comply with its directives on safety measures or risk being shut indefinitely.