Following the directive given by President Muhammadu Buhari that Lagos, Ogun and Abuja would be locked down for 14 days from Monday 30th March by 11pm to curtail the spread of Coronavirus aka Covid-19, traders have increased prices of foodstuff in the markets across Lagos State.
Upshot Correspondent, who visited Ile-Epo market in Alimosho Local Government Area of the state observed that a tuber of yam was sold for N1,200 (one thousand two hundred naira) while small bowl of tomatoes cost N1,000 (one thousand naira).
Despite the increase, people were seen buying foodstuffs in bulk as many attributed the hike in prices of food to panic buying based on the directive given by the President.
It was discovered that a bag of garri was sold for N12,000 (twelve thousand naira) while a plastic of garri was sold for N700 (seven hundred naira).
It was however discovered that the principle of social distance was not observed in the market, while only few people were seen with facemasks and gloves.
One of the buyers, who spoke with Upshot lamented the increase in prices of foodstuffs.
She noted that the Federal Government ought to have put some palliatives measures in place to help the poor masses before declaring the lockdown.
However, Upshot observed long queues in banks and shopping malls in some parts of the state apparently to beat the period the lockdown would start in the state.
It would be recalled that in his address to the nation on Sunday 29th March, President Buhari stated that based on the advice of the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Centre For Disease Control (NCDC), it became imperative that Lagos, Ogun and Abuja are locked down for 14 days from 11pm on Monday 30th March, 2020.
Source: upshotreports
