Security operatives have denied thousands of traders and their customers entry into Kwari International Textile Market in Kano as the government relaxes lockdown earlier imposed on the state to curb the spread of coronavirus.
It would be recalled that Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje last week announced that only commodity market at Yan Kaba and Yan-Lemo fruits market would be allowed to operate from 10am to 4pm on Mondays and Thursdays every week. Some neighbourhood supermarkets are also permitted to open, as the state intensifies efforts to combat the ravaging virus.
All religious gatherings including Friday and Sunday congregational prayers for both Muslims and Christian faithful have been put on hold for over three weeks in a bid to contain the spread of the disease.
President Muhammadu Buhari last week imposed a 2-week total lockdown on Kano after a seven days initial lockdown declared by the state government.
However, some of the shop owners at Kantin Kwari who felt deprived of their means of livelihood for almost three weeks due to the lockdown thronged in large numbers to open up their businesses as early as 8am, but they were chased out by mobile police operatives.
Our reporter who visited various entry points of the market observed a large crowds of stranded customers some of whom had traveled from remote local government areas to make purchases in Kano ahead of the eid-el-Kabir Sallah celebration.
Some of the shop owners who spoke to Daily Trust urged the government to review the terms of ease of the lockdown to include some other major markets within the city so as to reduce the hardship being experienced by daily income earners.
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