By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
With the steady daily increase in the numbers of Covid-19 positive cases in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, most residents are going about their activities without wearing face masks nor maintain physical distancing.
Prompt News can confirm that most residents especially those in the informal sector are guilty of not observing the recommended health protocols including regular hand washing, use of hand sanitizers, wearing of face masks and maintaining good distance from one another.
Our investigations revealed that such people as motor mechanics, barbers, fruits sellers, bricklayers, bars and restaurant attendants and indeed many artisans visited at their places of work were not observing the prescribed health protocols.
Further investigation revealed that most people in the various daily markets and business centres across the city transact their businesses without taking personal responsibilities as recommended by the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 pandemic .
Also, inter- state commercial vehicles are still carrying more than the recommended number of passengers on board just as the passengers were seen not wearing face masks.
Taxi drivers in the FCT still carry four passengers at the back seat and two people in the front while mini buses that operate on Maraba-Nyanya- Area 1 axis and across the metropolis are carrying full capacity of passengers.
Alhaji Abdul Sani Paiko who sells new and old electronics at Area 1, Garki neighbourhood market
told Prompt News Wednesday that he has his face mask but rarely uses it because many of his fellow traders in the market are not in the habits of wearing face masks too.
The situation was the same at major markets like Wuse, Garki, Utako, Jabi and others at the outskirts of Abuja such as Kubwa, Dei Dei, Gwagwalada, Kabusa, Galadimawa, etc, where residents are not observing health protocols.
But Chief Maxwell Akajiaku who deals on building materials at Gudu District, FCT argued that it’s risky for Nigerians in general and Abuja residents in particular to be complacent at this time.
According to him, “it will be foolhardy for anybody to think that Covid-19 pandemic is behind us. It is still with us so I will want everyone who loves himself to always observe the recommended health protocols including regular hand washing of hands and wearing of face masks”, he concluded.
Prompt News reports that with 296 new Covid-19 positive cases reported in Nigeria Wednesday by NCDC, the total positive cases have risen to 55,456 cases with 1,067 confirmed deaths recorded.
