Owerri, Imo State capital, witnessed total lockdown, Tuesday, March 31, 2020 as residents complied substantially with stay at home directive of the Imo State government.
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State had ordered a lockdown of the State closing schools, markets, the State workforce, gatherings in Churches and Mosques.
On Tuesday, our correspondent reports almost all major shops in Owerri metropolis were closed, including motor parks.
Banks provided skeletal services as customers were seen queing at entry points. Most customers made use of their ATM cards to withdraw cash.
Stern looking security personnel were later sighted at major entry/exit points of the State capital, stopping commuters from leaving or entering the State capital, Owerri, in compliance with the directive of the State government which had banned inter and intra city travel.
At Wethedral/Douglas road junction, those walking home were forced to raise up their hands before crossing a barricade put in place.
Some of the streets in Owerri were over taken by some youths who resorted to street football, while major roads were deserted. Many people resorted to trekking to get to their destinations.
City transport system, such as Busimo, partially conveyed residents to their destinations until security personnel later surfaced to disrupt their operations.
Mr. Chris Ukagha, a trader called on the Federal Government to provide palliatives to Nigerians to ease the impact of the lockdown.
“I join those Nigerians who have called for payment of stipends to Nigerians during this lockdown.
” They can use the BVN numbers as a criteria.
A watchdog group, Imo Awareness Coalition in a statement called on the State Governor, Hope Uzodinma to set up a Task force to force down the prices of food items.
“A situation where a bag of pure water sells for N200 is unacceptable” he said
Mr. Ernest Opara, a businessman lamented on absence of electricity in some parts of Owerri metropolis during the lockdown.
“I observed that there has been no power supply in almost all areas of Owerri metropolis since the lockdown began. How do we fold our hands and stay at home when there is no electricity to even power our phones.
“How do we even get to the filling stations to buy petrol for our generators when vehicles are ordered to go back at entry and exit points of the city.
” Our government just copy this lockdown method done in other countries without studying how the thing is managed out there.
There has no confirmed case of coronavirus in Imo State.
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