The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA on Tuesday directed the Abuja Markets Management Limited AMML to ensure implementation of opening shops in Abuja markets between 10.00am to 2.00pm on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
The new guideline issued by the Presidential Taskforce allows only shops and stalls selling food and groceries to open to customers between 10 am and 2 pm on alternate days or less frequently.
Consequently, Chief Press Secretary to the FCT minister, Anthony Ogunleye in a statement on Tuesday said after a meeting the previous day between officials of the FCT Administration and relevant security agencies, it was agreed that the new arrangement will be fully implemented in the FCT.
He said: “Markets in Abuja will now operate only three times weekly; that is on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, from 10 am to 2 pm. “This means that after the close of market activities on Wednesday, April, 8th, the next market day will be next Saturday 11th, April 2020”.
“These are part of measures being employed in addition to other social distancing measures already put in place to limit the spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic in the FCT.
“Market Managers and the FCT Police Command have been directed to ensure compliance with this directive by monitoring all entry and exit points of the various markets as well as activities of the traders.
“FCT residents are called upon to support the efforts of government and also patronize markets within their neighbourhoods rather than going to the major markets in distant locations, in order to prevent a possible spread of the virus between communities in the FCT”, the statement added.
