Lockdown: Kwara artisans count losses

Members of the Kwara Professional Artisans of Nigeria are counting their economic losses since the commencement of the month-long lockdown by the State Government following the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the state.

Mr Joseph Olu-Akintayo, the President of the union, in Ilorin on Friday said that more 10,000 members had been affected by the lockdown.

According to him, over 10,000 members of the union in all the 16 local government areas are incapacitated to meet economic commitments in their various homes as a result of the development.

He said several members of the professional body, which comprised 39 unions, were currently wallowing in abject poverty since the beginning of the lockdown.

“We are recording economic losses on a daily basis as some of us can no more live up to expectations in our respective homes since the lockdown began.

“I receive not less than 25 telephone calls from my members on a daily basis soliciting assistance to feed families,” Olu-Akintayo stated.

The president, therefore, appealed to the State Government to provide succour or palliatives for them to alleviate their suffering since the lockdown has been extended for another fortnight.

11 cases of Coronavirus had so far been recorded in the state.