Safety Experts Seek Open Market Review to Check COVID-19 Spread

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Sequel to the rise in community transmission of COVID-19 in Nigeria through personal contacts, safety officers, on Thursday, called for a review of open commodity markets to check the spread of the virus.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Lagos and Ogun states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have, in the last three weeks, been on lockdown on the orders of the Federal Government.

Some governors have also declared lockdown in their respective states, thus putting a halt to socio-economic activities in those states.

READ ALSO :JUST IN: Lagos Discharges 16 COVID-19 Patients, Total Now 85

Mr Desmond Osamade, Secretary, Safety Professionals Nigeria (SPN), noted that the social distancing, which was meant to halt transmission of the virus, was not being observed in markets, hence the continuous rise in the number of infected persons.

Osamade, whose organisation is into workplace safety, consultancy and advocacy, told NAN that the idea behind the social distancing measure in many commodity markets in Lagos had become counter-productive.

“At Mile 12 market, there was nothing to show that we are in a hurry to curb the spread of COVID-19. People mingle in and around the market, with unrestrained body contacts.

“This is an area of concern if we really want to make headway in the fight against the spread of the virus,” he said.
The SPN secretary advised Nigerians to heed the government’s call for social distancing and tasked policymakers to review the open commodity market to achieve the set goal.

According to him, commodities can be taken to people within their neighbourhood for purchase, with security operatives posted there to ensure compliance.

Through this, he said that crowd control would be maintained, adding “since the items are not for free, there is likely not to be any upsurge.”

Also speaking on the open commodity markets, Dr Dalhatu Mohammed, President Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) UK, Nigeria Region, said whatever gain recorded during the lockdown had been eroded by the open commodity markets.

Mohammed, whose organisation, an international health and safety professional body, focuses on safety advocacy and quality safety and health education, said that allowing the markets to operate would subject the country to a vicious cycle in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.

He called on corporate organizations and well-meaning individuals to assist the have-nots and the vulnerable with palliatives as a way of supporting the government in the fight against the virus and to reduce tension in the land.

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