The current situation all over the world talking about the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic otherwise known as COVID-19 has almost brought the whole universe to a standstill as all spheres have been adversely affected.

In Nigeria, the pandemic has reduced most businesses to a near comatose state.

For example, food sellers have closed down indiscriminately as a result of little or no patronage.

Majority of the food sellers feed their respective families with the remnant of the day and also their proceeds.

Osazuwa Irobosa a correspondent for WuzupNigeria visited the market in Ikotun ( Alimosho LGA) on Wednesday, the shops were opened on the directive of the state government on a two days interval basis.

Consumers were seen trooping in and out of the market for the purchase of essential commodities even though the price of foodstuffs have skyrocketed making it difficult for the reach of the common man.

Alhaja, as she is popularly called deals in the sales of Elubo, Beans, Garri, plantain flour etc…, said she only comes in when the market is opened, although patronage has not been commensurate.

Iya Dada who owns a provision store in Ewenla street, Ikotun says that she opens every day as her business has been booming because people rather buy from her than head out to the market to buy provisions as they usually do. She also said that her major concern is the inflated prices of items from the big stores where she buys from.

However, she said she was grateful to the government for allowing her open her store in spite of the lockdown.

According to Michael Ifeanyi who deals in sales of foodstuffs such as rice, beans, melon, corn etc. Ifeanyi’s shop is located at Folawewo street, Ifako Ijaiye LGA, Ogba Lagos.

He decried the loss of sales, inability to transport his goods as lockdown continues after two weeks.

“We have particularly experienced much difficulty in the area of goods mobility, especially with current lockdown order. As a matter of fact we find it difficult to transport our commodity from one location to another. Aside this, there have been a drastic reduction in customers’ patronage due to their inability to get to the market” he said.

When asked by our Correspondent on the current prices of goods, he said:

“For instance, a bag of garri before the lockdown was #7,500 but currently sold for #10,500. A bag of rice was #22000 but currently sold for #25, 000. A bag of corn was #11,000 but currently sold for #15,000. This is applicable to all commodities.”

Concerned Ifeanyi pleads with President Buhari to relax the lockdown for a week to enable people stock their stores with foodstuffs. And of course, cash should be disbursed to vulnerable citizens who have no means of survival.

“After two weeks, we can relax it for one week or three days before declaring another lockdown. Secondly, they should come to the aid of the masses especially the less privileged ones, compulsory cash transfer, door to door food distribution are needed to survive this pandemic.”

In a similar interview conducted by our Correspondent to find out how COVID-19 lockdown has disrupted business activities at Ifako Ijaiye LGA, Ogba Lagos.

Our correspondent, Matthew Agbaje and Tope Adetunji who visited a well-known restaurant in the area reports that according to some members of staff of the restaurant who pleaded anonymity, said:

“Before the outbreak of coronavirus, we make lot of sales and our boss is always happy but now she rarely show up at the restaurant. Secondly, things are now very expensive in the market, few customers that comes to the restaurant complain bitterly that our food is now very expensive compare to what it used to be. The earlier the better coronavirus come to an end so that we can fully resume our business and start making sales again.”

Times are very hard at the moment, especially during the outbreak of Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19).

The aftermath has eaten deep into the finances of both private and public business enterprises all over the world as a result of the shutdown necessitated in different countries.

“This lockdown order by the president to curb the spread of the virus has really affected our sales, causing our customers to stay at home. Though the Federal Government has exempted us from the lockdown order, but how can we trade when our customers are not allowed to go to work, even some of our staffs are being chased back home by security agents. Product purchase is also an issue, but paying of full salary to staff is usually done as at when due and we’ve not laid off any staff as heard that other companies are forced to do which is understandable. We constantly run shifts to ease the movement of staff to office and stable run of the business, thank you,” says Bamisaye.

Speaking with another trader, Mrs Mobolanle Yussuf who is a dealer in tomatoes and onions at the Akute market, she stated that customers are not coming to patronize because of the fear of contracting the virus and as such she hardly make one thousand naira in a day.

“Customers are not coming to patronize as usual because of the lockdown order and fear of contacting the virus from them. I hardly make N1,000 in a day. I plead with the government to disburse money to petty traders like us that rely on daily income from sales to live and survive,” says Mrs Yussuf.

At A provision store owned by a policewoman, our correspondent spoke with her son, Isaac Prince who was present at the shop and he noted that sales was not that bad as it had been moderate.

“Sales has not been all that bad instead averagely okay, though the lockdown order has made selling boring which result to slow sales. The government has been fair with it’s residents by giving a time table to stock and purchase goods, but they should restructure the order and make living bearable for Nigerians,” he said.