t is no longer a news that the world is currently under the attack of a deadly pandemic disease called Corona virus (Covid-19) which has brought the world to her feet and place her in state of panic and emergency. Most of the world countries are currently under total lockdown and most activities, religious, economic and recreational has been suspended in a bid to curtail the spread of the virus.
However, Nigeria as a nation-state is not left out in the battle against Covid-19 as stay home, stay safe and social distancing are the approaches of both the central and regional government to control and curtail the spread of this pandemic and has also been deliberating on embarking on total lockdown which means the suspension of all activities, economic and movement after the closure of land borders and international flights and the declaration of lockdown in some major states (LAGOS, OGUN and the FCT) which are centres of commercial activities, this is where the questions comes from; Is total lockdown really the next line of action and if yes are we bouyant enough to embark on complete lockdown.
Now considering some of the countries who had already embark on complete lockdown and how things went with them. I'd love to drive out few points.
(1). Before the total lockdown the residents were given a 4 days notice so as to prepare them ahead.
(2). A building in each street is set aside as store where the necessary materials for live sustenance i.e. foodstuffs, groceries, medical and pharmaceutical items e.t.c can be gotten and a day of the week is set aside for a member to the family to get what is needed to sustain the family for a week
(3). Lovely member of the working class is paid 70% of their wages while staying at home doing nothing and the money paid is used to sustain.
If the Nigerian government is not bouyant enough to cater for the welfarism of its citizens that means as a nation of we're not matured enough to emulate the other countries of the world and if our government insist that means most Nigerians wouldn't die of covid 19 but HUNGER if the provisions are not made for the basic amenities to keep them living.
We all recognize the fact that most Nigerians are earning wages and not salaries and they depend solely on their daily income to cater for themselves and their families , how do we expect such families fare when activities are suspended and there is a decline in the Nation's economy
Now that some prominent Nigerian Elites have contributed their own quota to the fight against Covid-19 by donating to the FG. The federal government can't use unavailability of funds as an excuse not to make provisions for all citizens. If our government refuses to cater for the poor masses, we would be left with no options than to disobey the government's order to stay indoor and ensure social distancing because a popular Yoruba Adage says *"EBI KII PANU KI ORO MI WO"* which means an hungry man would never listen to any matter if it's not going to quench their hunger and an English adage also says "An hungry man is an angry man". We just hope this situation does not give rise to the rate of criminal activities
We all know that if the Hunger index should rise our people would remember the saying that *"Something must surely kill a man"*
Sen Sheu Sanni said on his twitter handle that "Corona should keep bragging for now, if garri finishes at the poor man's house that is when it'll know nobody is afraid of it"
Nigeria as a nation cannot survive total lockdown without the government making provisions for her citizens or else the mortality rate of people killed by hunger would be higher than that of people killed by COVID-19.
Nigeria as an agriculture practicing nation could not even produce the needed foods for it's citizen and thus depending on importation of agricultural produce from neighbouring countries for her survival. We hope our government helps the poor masses at this time of trials and not see it as another opportunity to siphon funds into their wallets.
Hmm. Thoughts provoking
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