In a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus in Akwa Ibom State, Governor Udom Emmanuel has announced the shutting down of all livestock markets in the state throughout May.
“Livestock sellers are advised to sell off their stock and proceed to shut down. Security agencies have been directed to monitor and ensure full compliance. Defaulters will be prosecuted” the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Emmanuel Ekuwem, said on Monday in a statement issued in Uyo.
Akwa Ibom, like most Nigerian states, has barred people and vehicles from entering the state from other states to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus. Security agencies in the state have, however, turned back several people who tried to enter the state in the guise of bringing in cattle and other livestock.
The state has made it mandatory for residents to wear a face mask in public and has extended the ban on religious and social gatherings and funerals. Markets in the state are opened only three times a week – Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. As of May 10, there are 17 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the state with two fatalities.
