The much awaited national broadcast on the likelihood of extending the lockdown for some days in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Lagos and Ogun hit Lagosians with a great shock yesterday, Monday, April 13, 2020 when the president and Commander-jn-Chief of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari declared that the stay at home order continues for another two weeks in order to further curtail the spread of Coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19.
Since the broadcast, many Lagosians, especially artisans, commercial drivers, bus conductors, petty traders and the likes have not been happy with the decision, describing the extension as uncalled for.
Some residents Opera News creator spoke to poured out anger and displeasure over the prolonged stay at home order which, to them, will aggravate their suffering as they're yet to recover from the pains occasioned by the first phase of the lockdown which also spanned two weeks.
According to Mr Ridwan Olusi, a commercial driver, "We have endured enough. I don't think there's any need for any extension again. Most of us affected are self employed. I am a commercial driver, I live all my life on daily earnings. I have exhausted all I had, expecting that the ban will be lifted. I was shocked to hear that president Buhari still extended it. It's like extending our days of suffering. I have wife and children to take of, and no food or money from the government. We're fed up. Hunger is even worse than Coronavirus. They shouldn't try any extension beyond this one again, otherwise people will revolt."
"What Buhari said has shown that he doesn't feel our pains. Although, it may be for the benefit of the country, there must be palliative for all and sundry. There are about 40 million Nigerians with BVN, So, if the government is serious, it wouldn't have been hard to send money across the masses with BVN. The stay at home order only pays civil servants, not self employed who live on their daily hustles. The decision is even uncalled for because whether or not we stay at home, it won't stop the virus from spreading to wherever it will spread to. Governor Sanwo-olu has a lot of work to do. You can see how all these young guys ate terrorising people here and there, breaking shops, carting away food stuff and valuables. And with this extension, things may get worse for the residents of the state. In fact, it's a wicked decision. We're just suffering for nothing."-Anonymous
A food items retailer in Abule Tailor, Mrs Aminat Kikelomo also lamented, "The extension of lockdown is not needs again at all. If at all it should continue, the government ought to know that people must eat no matter the situation. So, there should be need to relax the order so that people will be allow to work within certain hours, and commercial buses be also allowed to be on the roads for some hours just to ease the condition of the people in the state. For instance, most of the people patronizing me for the past few days are only buying on credit hoping to resume work soon.Now that the stay at home continues till another two weeks, how will they pay me back? And if I cant get the money they owed me, how will I continue with my business? I think government should have a rethink on the issue. We can't continue like this. The situation we are in presently is becoming unbearable."
Also, a bar and restaurant owner in one of the bubbling fun spots in Fagba area of the state who pleaded anonymity said, "The government is just punishing us for nothing. We're asked to stay at home, and yet nothing to cushion the effects of the hardships we're going through. We have not been operating for about three weeks now, and I must pay the salary of my workers. And at the end of it all, we will still pay tax. So, what's the gain of people like myself who are in hospitality business? I believe without asking us to remain indoor for another two weeks, the government can still send health officials around to start testing people from house to house to determine who had contacted the disease. Our government only copied what other developed countries did, but without providing anything to cater for its citizens. We're only hearing they're sharing money to the vulnerable. Who are the vulnerable they have truly shared the money for? Now, area boys have hijacked the whole thing now, thugs all over Lagos state, disturbing innocent people. Everybody has turned vigilante just because our leaders are lacking in their responsibilities. God have mercy on Nigeria
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