What Nigerians feel about the possibility of another lockdown

Nigeria continues to record cases of COVID-19 with a significant increase recorded daily.

With a total of 30748 cases, 12546 discharged and 689 deaths as disclosed by the NCDC on Thursday, many Nigerians share their views on rumours of the possibility of another lockdown.

Abubakar Idris, 42, Herbal Drug Vendor, Kaduna

A lot of people will be pushed further into poverty is another lockdown is imposed. Those without food at home are more in number than those who have. People may not be able to bear it if the government imposes another lockdown. There is no gainsaying that the cases of COVID-19 are increasing, government should control the spread of the virus instead of imposing another lockdown. When you ask someone to stay at home without sustenance, how can that person survive? The truth is that hunger kills more easily than the virus so it is inappropriate to impose another lockdown without the necessary palliative for the masses.

Lawal Umar, 51, Trader, Kaduna

COVID-19 is still very much with us and with the increase in confirmed cases; it will likely be with us for a longer time before a cure is found. I believe the lockdown was lifted due to advice on its long term impact on livelihoods. It was the failure to produce a vaccine that made Western countries to mull imposing another lockdown. However, we should not forget that these countries are more developed than ours in all aspects. We should make introspection as to whether we have been following the safety protocols imposed. The poor are facing hunger and poverty, majority are not adhering to safety procedures which is resulting in a daily increase of cases. So instead of imposing another lockdown, we should be cautious at all times and the government should be aware that it will be brought to account on how the COVID-19 funds donated to the country was spent.

Ode Dorcas, 33, Entrepreneur, Lagos

I feel very bad about the whole idea of a fresh lockdown. Instead, the COVID-19 task force should be thinking of ways to control the pandemic as the lockdown may not be the solution. I am not in support of fresh lockdown.

Jonah Friday, 32, Businessman, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

It is not advisable to impose another lockdown in the country now. By the way, what was achieved during the first lockdown, nothing! During the first lockdown, people were still moving around and the cases of COVID-19 were also increasing despite the lockdown. So, why allow people suffer by imposing another lockdown? If another lockdown is imposed, it means they want to kill the country’s economy. The first almost killed the private sector. Do you know how many people lost their jobs, businesses that packed up during the initial lockdown? If the present government means well for Nigerians, they should not contemplate another lockdown, rather, they should enforce adherence to safety protocols.
We shouldn’t just copy what developed countries do, they have their plans, here in Nigeria, what economic plan have we put in place? Does fighting COVID-19 mean depriving citizens the privilege of doing their legitimate businesses? Another lockdown in Nigeria is uncalled for.

Adeshina Wahab, 53, Media practitioner, Lagos

Government should not contemplate another lockdown because of the shoddy manner they handled the previous one. Palliatives meant for the masses did not get to them, thereby leaving the helpless people at the mercy of hunger and deprivation. The situation led to an increase in the crime rate. Any new lockdown could lead to a breakdown of law and order. People already feel agitated and our leaders are not making any sacrifice. They are still living large at the expense of the poor masses.

Aniekan David, 24, Businesswoman, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

Sometimes I wonder if the Nigerian government thinks about the plight of the masses. We just came out of a three-month lockdown and they are thinking of the possibility of another? Do they consider the families who could not even feed during the lockdown, what happens to the daily income earners whose businesses were ruined as a result of the initial lockdown? What plans do government even have for the masses in terms of palliatives or in repositioning the economy after COVID-19? Several people lost their jobs and are now hoping to do small business to keep the family going and government is talking about lockdown. As we speak, plans are underway for elections in Edo and Ondo states, why don’t they postpone the elections because of COVID-19, during the last lockdown, politicians were still travelling around without restriction, so it’s only we the masses that are at the receiving end when there is a lockdown. If they say wearing of face masks, physical distancing, washing or sanitizing our hands can stop the spread of this virus, what is the essence of another lockdown?

Allwell Ene, 40, Journalist, Port Harcourt

I don’t think it is necessary to consider another phase of lockdown by the Federal Government given the negative impact the initial lockdown had and still has on Nigerians.
When one is thinking about lockdown you should also consider the socio-economic impact such decision will have on Nigerians. Another lockdown is not the solution for the containment of COVID-19. The Federal Government should find a way to ensure that Nigerians adhere to the COVID-19 protocols such as wearing of facemask, regular washing of hands, observance of physical distance and large gathering. Enforcing these protocols is the only way to contain the spread of the Virus.

Hart Juliet, 19, Undergraduate

Imposing another lockdown will affect Nigerians negatively. We all know how many Nigerians were subjected to untold hardship during the first lockdown.
Students like myself are thinking of when schools will be reopened so that we can go back to our classes and not another lockdown. The most important thing is to ensure that everybody observes all the health protocols and until these are done no amount of lockdown will stop the spread of COVID-19.

Amaechi Okonkwo, 47, Journalist, Port Harcourt

Another lockdown is not the solution and for how long we will continue to lock down the country. The socio-economic effect of the lockdown is harming Nigerians. I think next phase is to look for better ways of containing the virus and the best way to do that is to ensure that Nigerians adhere strictly to all health protocols such as wearing of a facemask at public places, adhere to physical distancing and regular washing of hands. Federal Government should make sure there is total enforcement of all the health protocols.

Lawrence Olutayo, Banker, Lagos

What does government want to achieve with another lockdown? Instead of a fresh lockdown, government should embark on a massive campaign to sensitize the people on COVID-19, its preventive measures and how to boost the immune system. Government can also distribute drugs such as Vitamin C, Zinc and hand sanitizers among others as a palliative to the people while they go about their daily businesses. A fresh lockdown will hurt the economy badly. We have not even recovered from the previous lockdown, many have lost their jobs, many employees left with salary slash while many small businesses have collapsed. So the aftermath of another lockdown might be disastrous and beyond the control of government because people are already tired of being locked down.

Benita Dogo, 38, Nurse, Kaduna

The idea of another lockdown should not be considered and I don’t want to experience it again. During the previous lockdown, going to work was a battle. As a medical personnel, it costs me N1000 daily for transportation from my residence to my workplace because vehicles were not allowed to move. Despite being an essential worker, I had serious challenges with mobility. Though, it is a fact that there is an increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, I will advise that people comply with the safety protocols given by NCDC. I do not hope for another lockdown because there were reports of people finding it hard to feed because they are daily earners. An adult can cope without food some but for children, it will not be easy to cope with hunger. Another lockdown will have a negative impact on the poor.

Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, South-South Coordinator, Ohaneze Youth Wing

Yes, we agree COVID-19 is real and government is taking proactive measures in fighting its spread, but on the whole, the Federal government must know that people must make a living, even as they observe the safety measures put in place. Imposing another lockdown will not help our economy. Our economy is dwindling every day, what’s the country’s economic plan in the next 10 years? Government should apply wisdom in managing the situation but another lockdown isn’t necessary.