Residents of Katsina on Monday stormed banks and markets to make last-minute transactions following the lockdown order imposed on the city by Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State.
WuzupNigeria reports that the lockdown, which is aimed at curtailing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, will commence on Tuesday.
Masari had on Sunday announced the lockdown of the city and the entire Katsina Local Government Area following the discovery of two new coronavirus cases in the city. The development brings the number of such cases to twelve in the state with one death recorded.
Residents turned up in large numbers in banks, markets and supermarkets and big shops in Katsina on Monday, making transactions and buying mainly foodstuffs including grains and household items, preparatory to the lockdown.
The situation was chaotic in some banks especially those located along Kofar Kaoran commercial nerve centre of the city that they had to shut their gates at the customers and directed them to make use of ATM.
The situation was the same at the Sabo Kasuwa( Newmarket) where residents were seen at foodstuff stalls, making huge purchases.
A housewife, Hajiya Kolo Rafindadi said she was in the market to purchase food items for her family since nobody knows how long the lockdown would last.
She said,
” I am a nurse and in most cases, I am on duty but I have to make adequate preparations for my family since only God knows when the lockdown will last. “
Another housewife, Mrs Ngozi Ann gave similar reasons for being in the market. She added that she has several dependants, hence her decision to carry out the bulk purchase of food items and cooking ingredients to take care of her family and the dependants.
A restaurant operator along Kofar Kaoran road, however, expressed fears of the fate of her business and that of her colleagues in the same business if the lockdown stretches.
The middle-aged woman who spoke under the condition of anonymity said
‘Before government orders the lockdown, we were complaining of low sales. Now with the lockdown, we only pray that we are not pushed to indebtedness.My prayer is that the lockdown does not last too long. ‘
