There is an indication that Kaduna State will witness another lockdown unless the rising cases of COVID-19 are reduced drastically.
The state governor, Nasiru El-rufai, who has been in self-isolation, is mulling the idea of imposing additional lockdown due to the spike of the disease.
In a circular released from the Ministry of Education, all public and private schools were directed to close on Wednesday, December 16.
From the medical point, COVID-19 is real and government should do whatever it takes to keep the deadly disease at bay.
While it is cheering news that the coronavirus vaccine has been discovered and put to trial in the U.S. and U.K., it is not yet uhuru for the African countries including Nigeria which are yet to get the vaccine.
This means government should enforce necessary measures to ensure lives are saved before we receive our own vaccine.
However, considering that Kaduna State and its people are yet to fully recover from the economic and social devastation they suffered as a result of seven months lockdown, imposing another lockdown is tantamount to increasing hardship in the state.
The people of Kaduna State have suffered economic losses. I do not buy the idea of a second lockdown. Instead, the state government should ensure people are made to adhere strictly to medical pieces of advice such as social distancing, wearing of face masks, and maintaining absolute hygiene. The idea of a second lockdown is coming at a time people of Igabi, Birnin Gwari, and Giwa local government areas are experiencing banditry attacks.
Any attempt to impose a second lockdown will worsen the standard of living and exacerbate tension in the state.
I am, therefore, calling on the state government to reconsider the decision to impose a second lockdown. Instead, let people maintain safety.
Lawal Adamu Usman, Kaduna.
