Aba markets resume normal businesses as lockdown eases

July 3, 2020

By Ijendu Iheaka

Ariaria International market and others big markets in Aba, Abia on Friday resumed business operations that would see the traders do business for five days in a week.

The resumption started on Friday following Abia government’s announcement on Thursday that the markets would now open from 7 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday.

Since Abia announced initial lockdown directives to check Coronavirus spread on March 24, the markets have been opening only for skeletal services from 9 to 3 pm thrice weekly.

Our Correspondent who visited the major markets in Aba which includes Ariaria, Eziukwu, Ahia Ohuru and Eke-Oha markets reports that the traders expressed happiness for the gesture.

Mr Alex Ogbonnaya, a dealer on clothes produced in Aba at Ariaria said the move would alleviate the problem of spending beyond their income.

He said that trading only thrice a week did not bring enough income to solve their problems and meet their family needs.

He thanked Abia government for lockdown relaxation in the markets and promised to ensure he did everything that would keep him and others safe in order to sustain the lockdown relaxation.

“We promise to do everything we can to stay safe from Coronavirus because prevention is better than cure and life is more precious than wealth.

Mrs Ogechi Nneji, a dealer on pots and plastics at Ahia Ohuru said the lockdown rules affected her and her family adversely as their income could not feed them as it was before the lockdown.

“We thank God for this effort by the government to extend the relaxation of lockdown orders in the markets to five times a week and hope that with time it would include Saturdays too.

“I am urging Abia people to do everything government has asked us to be doing to ensure our safety and completely relax the lockdown to enable us trade as usual and live normal lives”, she said.

Traders who spoke to NAN at Eziukwu and Eke-Oha markets, thanked government for relaxing the lockdown in the markets and urged that complete relaxation of lockdown be done in few days time.