Residents of Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Tuesday came out in droves to utilise the two-day window granted by the State Government to restock their homes.
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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Government had on March 26 announced a 24 hours total lockdown with a two-day window of Tuesdays and Wednesdays for residents to restock on food and other essentials.
A NAN correspondent who monitored the situation reports that the town was back to its usual hustle and bustle, with many not seen to be practising social distancing and other public health protocols amid the Coronavirus pandemic.
Large crowds could be seen at markets and ATM points as well as inside banking halls as people tried to make the most of the opportunity to either withdraw cash or send money to loved ones.
Mrs Magdalene Bowman, a resident who spoke to NAN, expressed her joy and gratitude for the opportunity to restock as she and her family had run out of essentials in the house.
“Seriously, I am very happy that I am able to come out to the market again and stock up on food and other things after a while.
“I don’t know what would have become of me and my family if this two days window was not granted by the state government,” she added.
NAN also observed a hike in fares by transport companies as a trip to the state capital, Kaduna, which used to cost N1,000 before the Coronavirus pandemic now goes for N1,500 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and as much as N2,500 on other days.
A trip to Abuja which originally cost N2,000 was now goes for N3,500 and it was the same pattern for trips to many other places as the lockdown bites harder on residents.
One traveler, Mr Joseph Mathias, noted that he was not entirely surprised at the jump in fares as it was typical of transport companies to capitalise on such situations as the one at hand.
“I am not really surprised at what these people are doing because they are fond of it, and it is not nice
“You see them taking advantage of every little situation that arises to make more profits at the expense of their customers,” he added.
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