COVID-19: Local vendors decry non-provision of preventive measures by govt

Pepper seller at Egbeda market

Local vendors in Egbeda market, on Monday evening, expressed their displeasure at the state government for not providing masks, hand Sanitizers, washing hands basins and others. 

After the easing of the lockdown, there were directives on strict compliance to personal hygiene and safety measures. People handling food items were also instructed to always wear masks and hand gloves.

A fruit seller, neither using a face mask nor wearing hand gloves told Alimosho Today that he expected the government to provide all these preventives for the markets.

He said in Pidgin English, "how much be my profit fa, that I go buy sanitizer. If na that one for mouth (face mask), no problem. N100 no cost" (how much is my profit that I would buy hand sanitizer. I fi buy mask, it’s just one hundred naira). He further dismissed the existence of Covid-19.

Another market woman our reporter spoke to also expressed disbelief at the existence of Covid-19. In disgust, she said in Yoruba: "Sebi olori corona daku nigba ti won ni ko so bi o se na owo. Won fi wa pa owo, won tun fe ki a lo owo wa fun won" (the NCDC Chairman fainted when he was asked to recount how he spent money. They are making money out of us and expect us to use our own money for them?).

When reminded of the prominent people the pandemic has sent to the great beyond, which include the Chief of Staff to the President (CoS), Abba Kyari, former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and a host of others, she was quick to say 'Coro' (Covid-19) is only meant for the rich.

 

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