COVID-19: Lagos moves to set up Emergency Markets

Lagos state is planning to open about 50 emergency markets in school premises where Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies can erect their stands to sell essential goods to persons that cannot go to Spar or Shoprite to buy their daily needs during the period of closure of the markets to curb coronavirus spread.

Lagos government has closed down markets in the state leaving out only food markets in the efforts at curbing the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic which has disrupted the economy and death of many across the world.

The list of the schools are yet to be drawn up for essential goods that are classified as daily need products like foods and drugs, beverages, health and hygiene products, medicaments and so on.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu told the Organised Private Sector led by the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) at a Virtual meeting on Wednesday via the Information Technology facility of the Nigeria Breweries Plc, the governor also hinted that tax incentives and reliefs (breaks)  are currently being considered by the State Government to companies and citizens due to increased cost during this crisis times.

The governor also informed the FMCG companies of the testing centers in Yaba, Onikan, Lekki, and Gbagada in addition to the two already functional testing centers with the capacity to test 100 people per day. The third one is in the making.

The emergency markets in schools are to complement the retail chains like Spar, Game, Shoprite, etc. which shall all remain open daily during the market closure period to ensure that supplies are kept flowing so as to prevent people from panic buying.

This arrangement is to address the challenges of the FCMG companies over of the closure of markets in the state by the government that is at an advance stage in setting up more isolation centres to achieve 2000 bed capacity for Coronavirus patients by the end of March.

At the meeting which centered on Covid-19 update and attended by 24 notable companies including PZ-Cussons Plc, Nestle, Unilever, Nigeria Breweries, Friesland, Promasidor, Flourmill, Honeywell Flourmill, Spar, Niemeth Pharmacy, Shoprite, Cadbury, and Emzor Pharmaceuticals, the Governor said, electronics markets, shops, spare parts markets, clothes markets and all classified as non-essentials shall be closed down.

“All food markets shall remain open and employees of these FCMG companies must carry their IDs to and from work to ensure easy identification and smooth passage.”

The governor who reiterated that Lagos will not be on complete lockdown but slow down in order to take non-essentials out of the street and also to curb the fast spreading of the novel coronavirus, said, Lagos State Transport Buses that are meant for intracity commuting would be allowed to operate.

Currently, intercity and interstate supplies are a challenge outside Lagos because most states governments have imposed no entry into their state especially from Lagos.

The Governor however assured to reach out to the Chairman of Governors’ Forum, Governor Fayemi who is the Ekiti State governor to implore all state governments to co-operate and allow trucks of FMCG companies, delivering essential raw materials and products supplies a free passage into and through the states of the federation to ensure supply continuity.

Lagos state government is also expected reach out to airports and seaports operators to prioritize FMCG materials clearing over others during this period of stay at home.

He noted that the Lagos State Waste Management Authority in charge of garbage clearance off the streets and road shall work all through to remove the filth.

In conclusion, Governor Sanwolu released key contacts to NECA members for quick access to key commissioners including Commissioner of Police and his ADC, noting that the NECA forum with Governor remains a standing forum for crisis management as the members would be meeting once or twice weekly as the case may arise.

(Inside Business)

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