According to the demonstrators who expressed their anger, they were frustrated by the lockdown because they could not move around freely.
According to sources, trouble started due to a misunderstanding of Covid 19 guidelines as laid down by the PMB administration and the Ogun State government by the employees which culminated in a lockdown across the country.
Said an eyewitness who spoke on grounds of anonymity: “Many employees of the tenant enterprises in OGFTZ come from the northern region of Nigeria. During the lockdown, they cannot return to their hometowns hence they have to stay in Igbesa, Ogun State causing great burden to the local community. Also, the tenant enterprises made huge sacrifices by requiring local employees to return home in accordance with the state government policy, and at the same time, providing food, accommodation and wage for those who have remained in the Zone.
“Among the employees who stayed, a small part is responsible for equipment maintenance, while the rest enjoy paid leave. Therefore, employees who chose to stay are required to stay in designated areas in the zone in order to prevent and ultimately stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. However, based on misunderstandings of the state policy and the zone’s closure management policy, some employees believed that the zone had restricted their freedom hence the violent demonstrations. Every employee can choose to settle wages and leave the zone at any time. In line with curbing the spread of the pandemic, the Zone adopted the measure of ‘Exit Only, No Entrance.’ This means that those who have taken the initiate to leave the Zone must not return during the closure period for any reason until the Ogun State government lifts the ban of lockdown or introduces other new policies.
“However, some of them misunderstood the measures and required for compensation before leaving. The Ogun State Government, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), the Police, and Zone Management all participated in the explanation, negotiation, and settlement of the matter. However, not satisfied with the answers to their demands, some of the employees, together with certain people outside OGFTZ, started to attack the Zone, trying to force the enterprise to accept their conditions for leaving. On the evening of April 13, hundreds of people broke through the police defense and rushed into the Zone, throwing stones, attacking security personnel, destroying the gate, sentry box and vehicles, and setting fires which compromised the security and pandemic prevention measures of the zone.”
When the Sun visited the free trade zone, indeed it was one of mayhem as the gate of the free trade zone was destroyed and a truck was burnt to ashes by the irate workers. However, after a joint mediation of NEPZA, Immigration Bureau, the local government, and Zone Manager under the guidance of the police force of Igbesa and Lusada, the Zone police, and the Zone security team, the demonstrators withdrew and the matter was eventually settled.
Expressing his gratitude, the Chinese Consulate General, Chu Maoming congratulated the police and other security agencies for their swift response towards quelling the crisis. He said: “I want to use this opportunity to thank the DCP and Area Commander and agbara DPO , Igbesa DPO for your efforts towards securing the lives and properties of not just Chinese but also the local people and employees. Thank you very much. Together, China and Nigeria shall overcome this pandemic.”
Meanwhile, in a national broadcast, President Mohammad Buhari has extended the lockdown for another two weeks.
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