Mixed Reactions Trailed COVID-19 Lockdown
What started as a one man case in Lagos from an Italian COVID-19 victim in Nigeria on the 27th of February 2020 has since surged to 139 cases as at morning of 1st April, 2020. The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health is strengthening measures to ensure the outbreak is controlled and contained. The multi-sectoral Coronavirus Preparedness Group led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has immediately activated its National Emergency Operations Centre and will work closely with Lagos State Health authorities to respond to this case and implement firm control measures. As part of measures, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari in a national broadcast on Sunday the 29th day of March , 2020 announced a lockdown of major cities worst hit by the novel Coronavirus.
Addressing the nation, Buhari ordered a ban on social and economic activities and gatherings of people in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the commercial hub Lagos and Ogun states. In line with this, all the states in the country have introduced different measures to curb the situation ranging from self isolation to total lockdown and abolition of social activities including church, mosque, weddings, burials and other gatherings.
Reacting to the lockdown and other ad hoc policies put in place, Abel Kule, Teacher and public affairs commentator said “The disease is spreading in trickles, probably because a lot of contacts have not been tested. Despite the low fatality rate in the country, the highly infectious nature of the disease is a real scare, and people are beginning to take the safety measures seriously. As for the lockdown, the President’s announcement has given it more weight and even to “doubting Thomases.”
On whether there is any form of panic from the public on any of the safety measures in, Kule said he “won’t call it panic just yet. But there is general ambience of anxiety and uneasiness stemming from the fact that no major breakthrough has been made in terms of finding a cure or vaccine, and people are becoming bored indoors as a result of the social restrictions. The only safety measure here is the lockdown and social distancing policy adopted by the government.”
Kule also said the government is doing its best with the resources available in fighting the pandemic: “From what we see in worst hit countries of the world in Europe and America, our Government is on the right track. This is because even in countries with better health care facilities, you can only be tested when you become symptomatic. I believe this is one issue they cannot play politics with, because as its stands, the elite class, across party line are the most affected. For instance there is no back and forth, and blame game trading between the political class.”
Dooshima Benny Agera, Development Expert with Dyslexia Help Africa and International Organization based in Abuja said COVID -19 is surely affecting the livelihood of Nigerians on the negative side as most households do not have any savings. What is obtainable in reality in our Country is daily petty trading where most families sell on small scale and buy their daily needs. But with this panic buying some of them are not going out to sale again which means no sales, no buying.
Moreover, consumption of goods like soap, face masks and hand sanitizer is already creating a hole in the pockets of most Nigerians. She stated further that what you expect from a daily Okada Man whose only means of survival is daily riding of his motorcycle. Agera Stated that not having money can lead to mental instability and the analogy to her is that eating daily without earning can lead to depression for fear that when the little you have finished where else will get from; even the Government loses revenue when people stop earning. She feels that that mankind is being punished by God for the atrocities committed but posited that this will also serve as a lesson for the elite and political class to have a rethink and fix the ailing infrastructures in the country, especially the health care system.
Rev. Fr. Samuel Udogbo CSSP, Doctoral Researcher based in Republic of Ireland said ‘The African economy cannot stir its face when the grand fathers are down if the global economy goes into recession we are in deep trouble.”
To Adedeji Taiwo of the Federal University Lafia, said the lockdown or stay at home is the best measure to curb the spread of the virus but lamented that same has affected business owners like him and there should be stimulus package for business stimulation as people have spend most of the little income they have in stocking food stuffs so as to cope with the stay at home policy of the government. He further said “a lot of reports said it was a virus release from laboratory by Chinese Scientist, some said it was due to the 5G Network that was launched in China but all these are all theoretical assumptions. I am of the opinion that it is simply a pandemic just like like Ebola. I would not say is an act of God. Our God is a loving father, so why would he want to punish His children in this manner?”
An Illorin based Legal Practitioner Kolapo Iyanda said “people were not complying and this propelled the government and security agencies to be more stiffer and they mounted blockage at borders to arrest intra- state travelers… as at today, the level of compliance increased maximally. I must tell you that there is stable power supply here for life to be livelier at home. No case is recorded in Kwara State.”
Nyam Nyipila, Makurdi based Civil Servant informed our correspondent that he and his family relocated to the village so as to use the opportunity to prepare for next farming season, after the COVID-19, the family must eat. Here they are observing proper hygiene and social distancing. Nguuma Gbuusu, a Caterer lamented that the lockdown policy of Benue State has affected her business and pray that time heal the land fast so that normalcy can return.
It is however worrisome how COVID-19 has devastated global economy, causing death and sending fear. But efforts are concerted at containing the virus. It is biting, but there are indications that the lockdown and other precautionary measures are some of the obvious steps at containing the deadly pandemic.
