Covid-19: Reasons Sanwo-Olu Refuses To Shut Mile 12 Market -Sampam 

In the wake of the fast-spread of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic ravaging parts of the world and the global economy, the Chairman of Mile 12 market, Alhaji Shehu Usman Jubril has taken the bull by its horn, by engaging and charging all the stakeholders of the market to complement the efforts of Lagos State government in order to curb the spread of the contagious Coronavirus pandemic. Mile 12 should be commended for the measures introduced, they have procured thermometer guns used in checking temperature of shoppers, distributed hand sanitizers, face masks

KLJ: Kindly, do a brief introduction about yourself, Sir.

Alhaji Usman: Thank you! I am Alhaji Shehu Usman Jubril, the Chairman of Mile 12 International Market.

KLJ: CoronaVirus is a deadly pandemic ravaging the world right now, what measures did you put in place to prevent the virus from infecting the international and large Mile 12 market, precisely?

Alhaji Usman: Yes, we have done a lot to stop the virus from gaining its access into the market. We have taken some strong sanitising steps. First, continuous awareness within the market to ensure safety.  To also abide by the rules of Lagos State Government on social distancing, our people now pray individually. Also, we have circulated the message that whoever is sick shouldn’t come to the market, they should remain indoors or go to a hospital. We have ensured neigbouring interaction to discover sick patients to stop transmission of the disease. Right now, the market is intact. We have locked up seven gates accessing the market and leaving out just three entrances to ensure security through sanitization and security operatives. As you can see, members of our taskforce and newly employed volunteers are at the entrance to sanitize, check and sensitize people with medical equipment, as well as using face masks and hand-gloves. 

At the moment, there is no casualty in the market, we hope to maintain that. Everyone is protective and foodstuff are extremely hygienic. Traders have been educated to protect the interests of their customers.  As you can see, I’m sure you were sanitized twice before being allowed entry. Volunteers in the form of internship are really working. Security operatives are fully equipped to ensure food safety and to keep people from being contracted. Security operatives are working at the gates and everywhere.

KLJ: Governments in developed countries have shut down public sectors to ensure safety. In Nigeria, the markets are not left out. Is there any difference between religious gatherings and the food market like Mile 12?

Alhaji Usman: Religion should be practiced freely.  According to Islam, religion should not be practiced oppresively. You go to Mosques and Churches to worship and pray, not a place to eat.

Locking down food markets in Nigeria will throw the nation on catastrophe. There will be cases of death and hunger in the society. 70% of Nigerians are struggling to get a daily means of survival, even now, the outbreak of the virus is affecting the masses. Hunger is deadlier than CoronaVirus. In fact, one will contact diseases for staying off food. What needs to be done is to protect the citizens by putting strict measures in place, which we have done here. Lagos State Government is also working assiduously to do this. We can guarantee that Mile 12 Market is free from the virus.

KLJ: Are you aware that sanitizing equipment have increased in prices? Will this not cascade on the price of commodities, since Nigerians are known for taking advantage of every situation to inflate cost of goods?

Alhaji Shehu Usman: Yes, you are right. It is a fact and generally accepted that prices of food items will increase due to demand. We have educated our traders to show sympathy in their transactions, to make sure prices are not increased.

KLJ: Is there any restriction between the customers and the sellers? Most customers might want to touch items before buying.

Alhaji Shehu: It is a good question. We have educated the traders to show some level of responsibility when interacting with customers. Traders and customers are to wear hand gloves and use face-masks. They are to be sensitive of what they are buying from the traders here, the traders should make sure that goods are turned for the customers to verify the quality of what they are purchasing. Touching of food by buyers may cause transmission of disease. We have instituted a method whereby a buyer sees the sample of what they want to purchase, make payments and business is done.

KLJ: Are there sanctions for people who decide not to wear protective equipment?

Alhaji Shehu Usman: People are in panic over this deadly pandemic. No one will want to be affected. What we have done is to continue creating the awareness. We also make sure that people are sanitized regularly. There is a taskforce team on ground to make people comply.

KLJ: Nigeria is a religious country, many believe to have been covered by God?

Alhaji Shehu Usman: This is a universal disease that needs educational step. Being religious does not mean we should not protect ourselves legally and scientifically. Infact, the holy Kaaba in Saudi Arabia, was shut down as a result of this. Shutting down Kaaba tells muslims wordwide that the disease is real and dangerous. We should not be fools to play religion with this.

KLJ: Mile 12 Market has made giant strides since your ascension. What vision do you have to change government’s relocation plan?

Alhaji Usman Shehu: The transformation is evident. We have prevented sellers from both sides of the road. Our trucks now enter to offload goods at night, these trucks don’t leave the market until civil servants have all gone to resume work. The number of trucks are now limited in order to curb traffic gridlock. The members of the NURTW have also cooperated with us in ensuring proper vehicular movement.