PAUL OKAH, in this report, notes that despite an increase in the number confirmed cases of Covid-19 infections across Nigeria, many state governments have surprisingly relaxed the lockdown or restriction of movement order, thus risking further spread of the virus.
This is not the best of times for Nigerians, especially the less privileged, who earn a living by engaging in menial jobs or transactions on a daily basis. This is a result of the lockdown over the Covid-19 pandemic ravaging the world.
When the novel coronavirus was reported in Wuhan, China, in December last year, not many nations envisaged it would spread to them and, therefore, were caught pants down with the infection affecting over one million people and killing more than 119,000 across different countries, with 373 confirmed cases in Nigeria (as at the time of filing in this report) and still counting.
However, since the first index case was reported in Lagos on February 27, this year, through an Italian businessman that has since tested negative for the virus and subsequently discharged, the federal and state governments have been putting measures in place to ensure that there is no further spread of the virus.
Apart from engaging in sensitisation campaigns, movements were restricted in different states, with palliatives distributed to “the poorest of the poor” by federal and state governments.
In fact, on March 30, in a nationwide broadcast, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered lockdowns on Ogun, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in order to control the spread of the virus; a development that was extended earlier this week on April 13, following the report from teams set up by the federal government to control the spread of the virus.
However, even before the lockdown order by President Buhari, many states like Lagos and the FCT had already issued lockdown orders following confirmation of cases in the states, while other states that were yet to record cases also locked down their states.
Nevertheless, the efforts by the federal and state governments in controlling the pandemic may be an exercise in futility as a result of many factors.
States relax lockdowns
Just last week, states like Ebonyi, Imo, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Katsina, Kogi, among others, started relaxing the lockdown or restriction of movement order hitherto imposed on residents, especially due to the Easter celebration; as their permitted different forms of gathering, though with limitations to certain number of persons.
In fact, on Thursday, April 9, Ebonyi state governor, Chief David Umahi, lifted the ban on burials and religious gathering, directing Christians across the state to conduct church services between 8am to noon from Easter Sunday and for affected families to bury their dead ones.
The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr Uchenna Orji, and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Religious and Welfare Matters, Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali, made the disclosure during a joint press briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Abakaliki.
Nwali said government decided to lift the ban following an appeal by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to allow Christians to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday, alarmingly revealing that the SEC “in its magnanimity,” had allowed different churches to have their full church service and its entire population worship God.
Similarly, states like Katsina, Kogi, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, among others, also eased the restriction of movement for Christians and Muslims alike to gather for religious worship, thereby ironically risking widespread infection of the COVID-19 pandemic they hitherto guarded against.
In fact, on April 11, 2020, after initially shutting its borders, extending stay-at-home order and controversially saying people with face mask don’t need social distancing, in a statement by his spokesperson, Christian Ita, the governor of Cross River state, Ben Ayade, ordered civil servants from grade level 10 in the state to resume work on April 14.
The statement stated that while mass gatherings of all kinds such as worships, weddings, burials remain prohibited, residents would be allowed into public places such as markets, malls, sports, and banks if they use appropriate mask.
Partial lockdowns
Apart from the relaxation of lockdown in different states, the partial lockdown adopted by different states since the pandemic was recorded in Nigeria has not been helping matters.
Recently, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) revealed that the pandemic is now recording community infection, meaning that it is now being spread by infected individuals other than those who came in from high risk countries.
Consequently, with markets, pharmacies and others remaining open for transactions, especially for those selling food items and rendering essential services in neighbourhoods, there is the possibility of the country recording fresh cases on daily basis.
It could also be recalled that, just last week, perhaps due to complaints by residents, the FCT Administration directed that markets should open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays; for residents to buy food items.
Therefore, with the continued and unrestricted access to markets by residents, who may be infected, Nigerians should not be surprised if there is a spike or increase in the number of infected Nigerians.
Inadequate palliatives
In different parts of the country, Nigerians have decried the lockdown order, revealing that hunger may kill more people than the coronavirus pandemic.
Though private individuals, organisations, politicians, federal and state governments have been distributing food items to selected residents, many have complained of not receiving any palliative to keep them comfortable at home.
In fact, it has become a national item for Nigerians, who earn a living by going out on daily basis “to hustle”, to say that there is not enough palliatives by governments, individuals or organisations to make them stay at home comfortably for two weeks, let alone a whole month (following the extension of the lockdown on Ogun, Lagos and FCT).
As result, many Nigerians have been battling with security agencies by leaving their homes in search of what to buy or sell, thereby risking coming in contact with affected persons and spreading the virus.
Lamenting the extension of the lockdown by President Buhari, a civil servant in Lagos state, Mrs. Blossom Juliet, told this reporter that the effect “will be catastrophic” and that many are even praying to be infected with the virus in order for government to take over their feeding and welfare.
She said, “Lockdown Phase Two? Two more weeks of lockdown for Lagos, Abuja ,and Ogun states… the effect is going to be heavy on people, especially Lagosians, who started the lockdown even before the federal government. Buhari said an additional one million households will benefit from federal government palliatives, bringing the total number to 3.6 million households to benefit from the palliatives.
“Are you kidding me – a country of over 200 million people with over 80 per cent of its population below poverty line? What an insensitive government! Come to think of it, are unemployed youth not vulnerable to this pandemic? Our country is not normal, just that those residing in Nigeria are made of iron and not mere humans.
“Some are burning their cash to feed. No more income, while some are enriching themselves during this pandemic. Some are even praying to become victims of Coronavirus so that they can be quarantined and taken care of. God please come and heal the world. We need your healing hand upon us, oh Lord.”
Similarly, a writer, David Ogbonna Chitah, said many states may imitate President Buhari by also extending the lockdown, without enough palliatives for residents, who bear the brunt with the latter class certain to devise means of surviving.
He said, “President Muhammadu Buhari ordered another 14 days lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun. Some governors may also extend lockdown in their various states and others yet to join may order same. The most inhumane part of this order is that the order came (and will come) without measurable hope or provision for citizens, a clear example of how uncaring and insensitive some of our leaders are.
“Right now, the thought in the heart of many Nigerians is how to survive the weeks ahead and even afterwards. Only the hearts of the dead would be devoid of these thoughts. However, I bring you hope; hope that Christ cares. If He could provide for the sparrows that neither till nor ploy the soil, He will surely provide for you and yours. I can assure you, as we trust Him, we shall all sail through this successfully, together.”
Corrupt security agents
There are allegations that security agents are benefiting from the lockdown by accepting bribes from motorists and pedestrians to allow them move beyond checkpoints, regardless of whether they are infected with the coronavirus or not.
Therefore, with corrupt security agents allegedly allowing individuals to have free access to movement and not obey the lockdown order in Ogun, FCT, Lagos and other states, there is a possibility of the virus spreading in alarming proportion.
Commenting on the situation, an activist, Nnanna Azubuike, said that corruption has become part of our daily routine and that the pandemic will continue to spread if Nigeria does not find a solution to corruption.
He said, “Corruption has been ravaging us in this country on per second billing and it has so overwhelmed us like a terminal illness draining life chronically from its host; while Nigerians, on the other hand, have gotten so used to corruption that we have accepted it as a norm and hope to keep living one day at a time.
“Covid-19 is a viral menace that is burdening enough on every country it has entered as we all see. Combining with our terminal illness (corruption) will further shorten the life span of this country with each single day it persists. No one should rejoice about it; not even those who want this contraption over, because it may be bloodier and more horrific than a civil war. Nigeria cannot survive the coronavirus if we don’t find a drastic measure to kill our individual tolerance for corrupt practices.”
Porous borders
It is an open secret that our borders are porous, especially land borders, with banned products and human beings finding their ways into the country, under the watch of security agencies.
Interestingly, a security agent, who refused to have his name in print for obvious reasons, said the coronavirus disease will continue to spread in Nigeria as a result of our porous borders and alleged government’s inability to take care of the welfare of security agents.
“How much do you think that policemen and other security agents are paid in Nigeria? If their welfare is well taken care of by government, do you think they will be spending hours under the sun to accept N50 or N100 bribe from Okada men and motorists? As long as government neglects the welfare of security agents, our borders will remain porous.
“Even at this period of Covid-19 pandemic, many people are still coming into the country and crossing over to different states from different borders. Blame it on government’s inability to pay security agents very well. The virus will continue to spread because government is not doing enough to take care of citizens, especially security agents manning our borders,” he said.
Social distancing
Health experts have warned that the pandemic is spread through close contacts, handshakes, hugging and touching of infected objects.
Therefore, among other precautionary measures, they advise that social distancing should be maintained, with regular hand washing, avoidance of hugs and handshakes.
However, these stipulations are often disregarded, particularly the social distancing rule. In fact, despite the lockdown order, those who manage to come in contact with others hardly obey this rule. Also, pictures of palliatives distributed to beneficiaries on social media reveal that beneficiaries disregard the social distancing order as they often struggle to receive their own portion of food from government officials, individuals or organisations.
Bills
Despite the lockdown order and restriction, water, electricity and other bills are still piling up for households to settle, thereby forcing people to disregard the lockdown order to look for money outside their homes.
Pouring her frustration to Blueprint Weekend, an FCT resident, Mrs. Fatima Musa, said even the two months of electricity promised by distribution companies may not be possible at this time and would not blame anyone risking the virus to go out.
“We are safe at home already, but what about our daily bread? Many people are starving. Other countries provided food and money for their citizens, but what do we get in Nigeria…NEPA bill payment or disconnection, even after they promised to offer us two months of free electricity? If not electricity bill, you pay water bills. In Apo here, everything is costly, including sachet water.
“Just the other day, my neighbour was reminded by his landlord about the pending expiration of his house rent by the end of this month. How then can someone comfortably stay at home with many bills to pay and problems running through his mind? I am just tired, really. I won’t blame anyone going out to hustle. I even prefer to get the coronavirus to dying of hunger,” she said.
NMA’s warnings
Following the relaxation of the Covid-19 lockdown order and restriction of all forms of gathering by Ebonyi, Imo, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Katsina, and Kogi state governments, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has cautioned the governors to be wary as the relaxation may lead to widespread infections.
In a statement jointly signed by its president, Dr. Francis Faduyile and secretary-general, Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote, on Friday, last week, the NMA stated that the orders by the aforementioned governors authorising the mass observance of Juma’at prayers and Easter Sunday services would be counterproductive.
The association, therefore, appealed to the authorities concerned to rescind their decision in the interest of the safety of lives, even as it implored the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to ensure that such gatherings do not take place.
