Traders count losses as 24-hour lockdown on Rivers community is lifted

Traders and business operators along Okoro Nu Odu to Rumudomaya axis of Obio Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State are counting their losses after the state government lifted a 24-hour lockdown it imposed on November 22, 2020.

Governor Nyesom Wike had imposed a total curfew over what he described as a spike in cult-related activities in the area.

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Apart from the rival cult activities in the area, the governor was also not happy with the activities of illegal street traders and touts who have taken over the construction site of the just commissioned  Okoro Nu Odu flyover.

Residents had complained that the curfew brought untold hardship on them and their businesses.

But reprieve came their way on Monday when the flyover was inaugurated and the lockdown lifted.

However, many of the business owners said they had lost goods worth millions of naira as a result of the prolonged lockdown.

A trader, Johnson Ama, said many of the perishable goods in his store, such as rice, beans, garri  and salt had gone bad following the lockdown.

“I have lost goods worth N250,000 as a result of the prolonged lockdown. I had about 20 bags of rice, 20 bags of beans and so many bags of garri that have spoiled,” he said.

Veronica Ibechi, also a trader said the rice, beans and salt in her store had congealed and gone bad.

“During the lockdown all the goods I had were locked up and I couldn’t access my shop to bring them out or even sell any of them.,” she said.

Another trader identified as Tochi said: “We were taken unawares because the lockdown was imposed less than 24 hours after the governor visited the area. All the goods in my store, mostly food items, have spoilt,” he said.

Moses Daniel who sells beverages said: ” As I speak with you I noticed that almost everything I have in the store has expired. I have over 150 cartons of indomie, cartons of milk and other essential commodities they have all expired,” he said.