Prices Soar in Ekiti as Fayemi Declares 14-day Lockdown

The prices of commodities have skyrocketed in Ekiti State following the declaration of a 14-day total lockdown in the state to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The order, which will take effect from Tuesday and lasts till April 14, has also forced residents to engage in panic buying, and had prompted the sellers to hike their prices.

Fayemi had last Sunday announced the directive, which will force the residents to observe self-isolation for 14 days with total restriction, except those on essential duties.

Since then, prices of foodstuffs like pepper, tomato, fish, rice, meat and other essential commodities have soared, as residents rushed to buy the commodities and stocked at home.

 

A bag of rice that was sold for between N17,000 and N17,500 had risen to between N19,500 and N20,000 while a fish that was sold for N400 per one is now sold for N600, another typical item which price has gone up astronomically.

The costs of soup ingredients experienced the worst case scenario, as all their prices have gone up while the transport fare was also not left out from the crises.

Meanwhile, the Senator representing Ekiti South senatorial district, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, has appealed to Ekiti residents to comply with  the order in their own interest.

Olujimi expressed support for the Ekiti State Government dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed to prevent further spread of coronavirus in the state.

The senator, in her solidarity message to the people of the state yesterday while distributing palliative materials to government health centres, motor parks, palaces and other strategic locations across the state, said: "As government imposes a curfew, I want to ask our people to comply strictly with the dictates of the government, adhere to proper hygiene, wash your hands every time with soap and maintain social distancing."