COVID-19 –Many Negative Fruits Of A Compulsory Lock-In

BY OLALEYE OLUWADAMILOLA O.

The months of mandatory lockdown in Lagos, over over coronavirus pandemic has given birth to you may tag COVID-19 –Many Negative Fruits 

The decision to lock down has not gone down well with many people in the first place as it restricts their to source their daily bread.

This is made worse by other activities and government failure to provide palliatives to ease the stay at home order.

The state, with a population of over 20 million, has also been a major beneficiary of coronavirus intervention funds but it still remains a mystery how it is being spent with many complaining that the palliatives is too minimal, even where it has got to some areas of the society.

It will be noteworthy that at this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments.

Issues of unrest in Lagos manifested in insecurity, food scarcity, crimes, lack of electricity, are many of the battles in the society, the mandatory social distancing and lockdown have brought to people in various areas of residence.

There have been an alarming rate of gang robbery and rape since the government’s stay home verdict in other to curtail the virus.

People are being robbed of the little they have in addition to government failure to provide palliatives to ease this pressure.

READ ALSO: Most COVID-19 Cases In Rivers State A Sabotage – Wike

This demeaning act is also accomplished with rape and killings in some instances with the society denied of sleep at night. On most occasions they are forced to come out in mass and keep might watch in order to ward of this gangsters.

Another Major impact is the issue of electricity; Despite the fact that people are at home, they have been forced to wallow in darkness due to the non-availability of light.

At least, this would made the stay indoors easy and productive for those that work at home especially.

COVID-19 –Many Negative Fruits

“Often times, I have missed a lot of classes due to the unavailability of electricity. Sometimes I have to go to the next street in search of power so as to make classes organised by my institute, it’s just so unfortunate”, a student lamented.

“I have burnt all lot of money on fuel due to the unavailability of power, the government isn’t helping out with feeding yet there’s no electricity, this is such a tight situation”, another man grumbled.

Subsequently, those who sell at the market have made things more difficult due to the hike in prices of foodstuffs and other consumables. Some even hoarded their goods in order to make excess profit much to the discomfort of the buyers.

“Before this virus, A Derica cup of foreign rice was sold for #350 but now it’s a shame, we have to buy for #500 now and some sellers insists on #600, this is so unfair, we are being cruel to ourselves. This is applicable to all other foodstuffs to and other home ingredients”, a woman cried out.

Although Nigeria will begin a “gradual easing” of coronavirus-related lockdowns for millions of people in its largest city Lagos and the capital, Abuja as President Muhammadu Buhari said the lockdowns, which had been due to end on Monday, needed to continue until 4 May.

He also ordered new nationwide measures against Covid-19, including a night-time curfew and mandatory face masks as the moves would ensure the economy functioned “while still maintaining aggressive response.

This in some ways have been a good news to the people as they look forward to getting back to work and business over the course of time.