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Lagos releases guidelines for re-opening of markets as state returns to life on Monday

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The Lagos State Government has issued new guidelines for the re-opening and operation of markets and shopping malls across the state from Monday 4th of May, 2020.

The state’s Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr Wale Ahmed, in a statement on Saturday, said all markets and stores across the state would be allowed to open from 9.00p.m. till 3.00p.m. on selected days.

Ahmed said the issuance of the guidelines followed Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s announcement on the gradual easing of the lockdown in Lagos from Monday.

The commissioner also disclosed that everyone going to the markets and stores would be mandated to observe precautionary measures, such as physical distancing and high level of personal and respiratory hygiene.

Read also: I infected four people with COVID-19, El-Rufai reveals

According to Ahmed, malls would also be allowed to open on the condition that they would maintain a 60 per cent occupancy capacity at any point in time, adding that there should be a two-metre physical distancing between a shopper and the next person in the store.

The guidelines, the commissioner said, also require that food handlers must wear masks and hand gloves in markets at all times, while shop owners must provide hand sanitisers and ensure hand washing with soap and running water at all entry points.

The guidelines also makes conduct of temperature checks on customers compulsory, with nobody exempted from the process.

”The guidelines are proactive measures put in place by the government to curtail a possible spread of the deadly virus among traders in markets places and malls when the gradual ease of the lockdown commences on Monday,” he said.

The commissioner also revealed that food sellers and other traders would operate on alternate days in all markets across the state.

”In essence, those trading in other items and wares apart from food will only be allowed to trade on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while all food and farm produce sellers will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays,” Ahmed said, adding that there would be zero tolerance for all forms of street-trading.

Ahmed, who urged market association leaders to ensure that their members abide by the guidelines, also called on the chairmen of local councils and the Office of Iyaloja-General and the State enforcement agencies to ensure strict compliance with the directives.

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