Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has has finally eased the two-week lockdown imposed on Kano state by President Muhammadu Buhari following reports of mystery deaths believed to be covid-19 related.
President Muhammadu Buhari in his last address to the nation on Covid-19, said he was "gravely concerned about the unfortunate developments in Kano" and directed the enforcement of a total lockdown for a period of two weeks effective immediately.
Ganduje however, has been clamoring for a reprieve despite growing concerns on the actual number of covid-19 cases in the State.
The governor did finally ease the lockdown albeit for a maximum of 12 hours a week shared between Mondays and Thursdays. The move is said to be necessary on order to allow residents stock foodstuff especially during ongoing Ramadan fast.
Ganduje said decision was reached after robust consultation with professionals and members of the presidential Taskforce committee on Covid-19.
He however said all markets with the exception of Yankaba commodity and vegetables market and the Yan-Lemo markets will be allowed to operate for six hours from 10am to 4pm on Mondays and Thursdays respectively.
He said only neighbourhood supermarkets would be allowed to operate besides the two markets.
He stressed that attendance at the markets must be based on use of face masks which he said would be made compulsory very soon.
The governor declared zero tolerance for inflationary tendencies due to personal and selfish interest by commodity sellers, saying he had directed the state Anti-corruption agency to visit the basic commodity markets and stores to ensure that no one is taking advantage of the lockdown and the Ramadan fast to inflate the prices of essential commodities.
He said he had met Alhaji Aliko Dangote and other business moguls in the state over the price of sugar, rice and many other essentials.