People of Imo State will have to pay through their nose if they must have food during the lockdown proposed by the state government.
Price of food items especially Garri has soared to over 100% in some areas, with a bucket bought for 700 on Thursday now selling for between N1200 and N1700 depending on the location on Friday.
Other items with sharp rise in their prices include yam and rice as demand has risen due to panic buying cause by general expectations that markets in the state will be shut down after Friday to help prevent the spread of coronavirus in Imo State.
A trip to Nkwo Orji market in Owerri North LGA showed that price of food stuffs are relatively stable except that of garri, while lots of people were seen trying to buy tubers of yam.
Chat with some traders shows they don’t believe there will be a lockdown as their tables are still stocked and they believe the market will still be open by Saturday.
The state police command had released that they have banned all forms of gatherings and assemblies to help enforce social distancing, but there is still confusion if markets and churches are among.
Imo does not have any case of COVID-19, and the government is taking every precautionary measures to see that it remains that way.
The state government is also planning on enforcing at total lockdown which will include blocking all entries into the state from outside.
