By Chris Paul Otaigbe
Two and a half lockdowns, to curb the spread of coronavirus in Lagos and other states including Abuja, yet the pandemic continues to infect more, taking more Nigerian lives amid deepening poverty and hunger, forcing many to ask if the Stay-at-home order was necessary for the first instance.
On March 30, 2020, when President Muhammadu Buhari locked down Lagos, Ogun and Abuja, where the Covid-19 casualty numbers were on the rise, 20 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Nigeria.
New cases were reported from Lagos with 13 out of a total of 81 cases, FCT had four out of 25, three in Ogun State, two in Kaduna and one in the Oyo States among the 131 confirmed cases across 12 States. Of these, eight cases had been discharged, while 121 were receiving care and all Nigeria lost to the pandemic by this date were two citizens.
Of the 131 confirmed cases, 75 (57%) had a travel history to high-risk countries, 18 (14%) were contacts of known confirmed cases, while 38 (29%) of cases had incomplete epidemiological information.
From the eight discharged cases, two were Ogun State cases managed in Lagos State (index and second case) and Six Lagos State cases. The two death cases were managed in the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada Abuja.
The next day, which would be the first day of the total lockdown, the eight new cases had shot the number to 139 Covid-19 positive Nigerians, according to the 32nd Situation report of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
All reported new cases came from Osun with three, another three from the FCT, one each from Lagos and Ogun. The 139 confirmed cases were still from 12 States: Lagos and Abuja retained their numbers at 81 and 25 respectively, Oyo had the highest new cases with seven, plus its existing index to end at eight cases, Kaduna; three, while Ogun had one new case to make its confirmed Covid-19 cases, four.
A fortnight later, April 14th, 2020, when the first two-week lockdown expired, the total number of affected states in Nigeria had shot from 12 to 20 (19 States plus the FCT).
The national Covid-19 status had shot up from the 131 on the day of the presidential broadcast to 373 confirmed cases with 11 deaths, as Lagos had skyrocketed from 81 to 214 confirmed cases with just six deaths. Abuja had increased from 25 to 58 cases, with no new deaths, while Ogun had shot up from three to nine.
Out of the thirty new cases reported, Lagos had 25, two came from FCT, one each from Edo, Akwa Ibom and Kano. As at May 7, 2020, over 3,145 Nigerians have been infected while the number of the dead had gone beyond the roof to triple digits at 103 and it is not stopping there because the numbers change by the minute by each passing day.
Meanwhile, during the lockdown, insecurity in the State sent residents into another panic with a group of armed robbers called the ‘One million boys’ terrorizing neighbourhoods across the State. While Lagos stayed at home, hoodlums were having a field day dispossessing trucks of foodstuffs meant for markets and palliatives for the poorest of the poor and vulnerable. More worrisome was the fact that some unscrupulous members of the Police Force took advantage of their role as enforcers of the lockdown to make life more miserable for the already drained residents.
Of course, for Lagosians who thought the whole Covid-19 lockdown order was a clinical joke meant for lesser mortals, got a taste of Covid-19 justice and found out to their shock that the pandemic applied a far shorter arm of the law to deal with them.
Ironically, it was the Covid-19 Ambassador and popular Actress Funke Akindele who got the first feel of the Covid-19 cane when she was made to face the wrath of the law, following the birthday party she organized for her hubby in blatant violation of the Stay-at-home order, in a Covid-19 lockdown. Lagosians and Nigerians would also not forget how the Court of Law condoned the mass violation of the Social Distancing rule in its premises as Journalists, Police and Court operatives engaged in an unsafe struggle to protect the Accused, capture on videos or in pictures, the arrival, entrance or departure of the celebrity convict.
After her celebrated case, many other Lagosians who could not endure a day without enjoying themselves outdoors and believed they could get away with it discovered that the Nigerian Police Force was awake on their watch for Covid-19 violators.
Few days to the expiration of the second presidential lockdown, men of the Lagos State Command made a hull out of Violators they arrested across some neighbourhoods in the State.
Few days to end of the extended lockdown order, operatives of the Lagos Police command arrested an Imam for calling evening prayers, at a mosque in Lagos, on April 24, 2020, amidst other arrests made in different parts of the State in a two-day clampdown on lockdown violators.
This was disclosed by the State command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bala Elkana, in a statement he sent to the media.
According to him, one of the over 600 violators arrested by the Enforcement Team of the Rapid Response Squad, in the two-day operations, was the Imam of Sheik Central Mosque, Mile 12 Ketu, Suleiman Abubakar.
He was arrested for holding evening prayers (Maghrib and Isha prayers), at about 10.30 pm in the Mosque with a large number of worshippers, in violation of the social distancing regulations.
Bala stated that the sweeping arrests effected by men of the State Command were in line with its mandate to enforce the extension of the Presidential Lockdown order which ended today, April 26, 2020.
In the statement signed by DSP Bala, the two-day operations took place in different places and at different times in the State. While the operations were executed by various commands located within the metropolis.
Acting on credible intelligence, operatives from Idimu Police Station swooped on a night club, arresting 39 suspects in a hotel at Idimu, for clubbing and striptease, in the early hours of the same day, April 24, 2020.
Also, at about 10.30 pm of the previous day, on April 23, 2020, operatives from Maroko Police Station arrested 10 residents for organizing a party at Lekki Garden. The suspects were arraigned in Court on three counts charges and found guilty as charged.
The Force PPRO stated that the lawbreakers were sentenced to six months imprisonment and community service, to run concurrently.
At the end of April 23, 2020, the Lagos PPRO said 121 violators of the lockdown order were arrested in different parts of Lagos State and charged to Court. They were awarded fines ranging from N5000 and N10,000 and two-hours community services.
The following day, April 24, 2020, acting on a tip-off, men of the Denton Police Station arrested 95 inter States travelers at Bhojson area, Ebute Metta in seven commercial buses with registration numbers LG 91 BGT, Lagos to Benue; BDA 690 XA, Lagos to Abuja; BGA 86 EA, Lagos to Abuja; LSD 459 XA, Lagos to Benue; LRN 105 YR, Lagos to Ilorin; LSD 81 XX, Lagos to Ilorin, and BWR 975 PN, Lagos to Abuja.
According to Bala, the buses were impounded, while the drivers and passengers were charged to Mobile Courts and sentenced appropriately, adding that 211 violators of lockdown order were arrested in different parts of the State and also charged to Court.
The Commissioner of Police (CP) Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu called on residents to continue to be law-abiding, especially during the lockdown period, warning against the spreading of fake news and recycling old videos on social media with fabricated contexts and captions to create panic within the period of the lockdown.
He assured that the Command is investigating sources of such mischievous messages with a view to bringing perpetrators to justice, adding that a total of 620 violators of the lockdown order have been arrested in Lagos and charged to Court, within the period of the exercise.
In a pre-COVID-19 situation, it would have been unlawful for the Police to disturb residents having a harmless fun in recreational and relaxation centres. Unfortunately, times are different and terribly terrorizing.
Then came Monday, May 4, 2020, when the lockdown was partially lifted for partial movements in the State and like steam trapped in a pressure pot, Lagosians surged out in their numbers to greet fresh air and freedom to go about their business lawfully and decently.
The scenes across Lagos on the first day of the reopening of the State after the historic lockdowns were captured in one of the viral videos that trended on the Social Media:
In the video, a Farm Attendant walks into shot and proceeds to open one of the large poultry barns. Immediately he opens the large poultry door, chickens start to pour out like water gushing out of a ruptured pipe, endlessly, in their hundreds per second. It is followed with classical music to underline the action of ongoing liberation of this Chicken republic, as the excited chickens jump out onto the field celebrating their freedom from forced incarceration.
It was a metaphorical depiction of the state of mind of Lagosians as they trooped out in hundreds of thousands across the State in excitement. ‘Free at last, free at last from Covid-19 lockdown, free at last…’ one could hear them say.
At markets, bus stops, inside commercial buses, bank premises, inside banking halls, Markets and other public places, they violated the social distancing rule with reckless abandon, knowing there was no Police to arrest them.
However, concerns over the likelihood of a community spread of coronavirus infection, became manifest as Nigerians trooped out on day one arising from the easing of the lockdown.
As Lagos observed its first day of the phased reopening of the State, Lagosians rushed out in their numbers, overwhelming banks, as commuters clustered at bus stops while passengers cramped inside commercial buses.
This development dramatically threw the social distancing rule out of the window. Kaftan Post spoke with some residents at one of the banks in Ogba to gauge their mood on their first day out of the house following the month-long stay at home order. Many were excited but unhappy with the State government for the 8 pm deadline issued for residents to return home.
Morufu Olayiwola, a trader at Agege, who had come to the bank at Ogba to regularize his account said the government did not think through its response to the pandemic. According to him, asking citizens to stay at home without adequate welfare provision for the people showed that the government never had a plan beyond forcing the people to stay at home.
“How can you tell people to stay at home for 30 days without making provision for what they will eat or how they will survive with their families. Now, you say they can come out but they have to get home before 8pm. How can that happen in a Lagos where traffic gridlock can hold you down for hours…” he said.
According to him, many Lagosians are likely to be stranded in town today because of either transportation issues or traffic gridlock.
Magdalene Osakwe works for a private firm around Ogba and she said one of the problems residents in the State will face today and throughout the period of the phased reopening will be inadequate transportation. “You banned Okada, banned Keke and yet your buses are not enough and you want people to get home before 8 pm. How do you think, with all the ‘hold-up in this Lagos, people can meet up…?” said Magdalene.
According to her, it took almost one hour plus to get the commercial bus that brought her to town from her Idimu residence. “I got to the bus stop as early 5.30 am and didn’t get a bus until about 7am before I could get the bus that the private car brought me to work at Ogba and I paid N3,000 just to get to my office. You can imagine that.” She complained.
According to her, asking people to observe social distancing without provision for adequate transportation cannot be sustained; “because people have to go to work, catch appointments that do not care for your social distancing. You must know that people have not worked for over 30 days and so they would want to use the opportunity they have today to get as much as they can get, since they can no longer predict anything, anymore.” Said Magdalene.
Benjamin Udofia works for one of the eateries at Ogba. He believes the social distancing rules may be difficult to achieve in a setting where there is no apparent plan for people to maintain prescribed distance is usually crowded public places. “Look at our markets now… Even during the lockdown, the markets that were opened did not even observe the social distancing rule not to talk of today that you have given everybody the right to go about their duty.
Meanwhile, the banks are overwhelmed and worried for fear of catching the virus.
According to a senior staff at one of the banks (name withheld), the Staff are scared because the deluge of customers that have invaded their office demanding service has put the branch in a precarious situation. “As you can see, so many people are on our neck to answer them at the same time. Even our appeal to them to space out to observe the social distancing rule is falling on deaf ears. Everybody just wants to be attended to and we are scared because you don’t know who is carrying the virus.” Said the banker.
Ndidi Emejulu who sells fruits at Ogba is also not impressed with the gains made during the one-month lockdown. She said the idea that forcing people to stay at home to curb the spread of the virus has not yielded the stated objective. “Look at it, they said when we stay at home and maintain distance, the disease will reduce. But every day I tune my television or radio, they were always talking about the increase in the number of people who have been infected and those who have died. So, what have they achieved? Whether we stay at home or come out or not, the virus will infect those it will affect and kill the people it will kill. I and my family will not be there by the grace of God. So, what is my own…why are they disturbing my market…” Ndidi said.
The violation of the social distancing rule, on this first day of phased relaxation of the lockdown, was blatant and reckless. The extent can only be measured by the impact it would have on the number of new cases of infections and possible deaths that would be recorded in weeks to come. Meanwhile, the Covid-19 status of the State as of May 4, 2020, stood at 1,107 confirmed cases, 803 are new, 247 discharged and 30 deaths.
The Lagos example was similar to the situation in other States of the Federation where the lockdown had been relaxed. The indiscriminate violation of the social distancing directive raised concern over a possible wave of community infection across the country as may be discovered in the nation’s Covid-19 status in days and weeks to come. So far, close to three thousand Nigerians have been confirmed positive to the virus with over 87 deaths.
Clearly, Lagosians may not take kindly to further lockdowns because the pandemic-driven panic policy had made them poorer than they were pre-lockdown and deepened the level of poverty in their communities.
What I believe the State and Federal government should have done was to massively procure tens of millions of facemasks and hand gloves for residents and citizens to wear as personal protective equipment. Allow the State to run normally and direct all the captive centres such as Churches, Mosques, Cinema Houses, Corporate bodies etc. to open Test Centers, NCDC or the appropriate government agency would have to screen and certify, in their premises.
Then Lagosians and Nigerians would gladly but voluntarily go for testing in Church, Mosque, Banks and any other corporate premises. Through this proliferated Test Centers, it would be easier to know the actual number of infected Nigerians and the ones who died from Coronavirus-related complications.
Sweden adopted a no-Lockdown approach and as of Tuesday, May 5, 2020, she reported over 2,700 COVID-19 deaths and more than 23,000 infections. That death toll may be far higher than its Nordic neighbours and many other countries that locked down, but it is in no way near many other countries that took religiously to the Lockdown policy and as of May 6, 2020, their numbers remained on the upward trajectory:
Spain locked down and she had 219,329 infected citizens, losing 25,615. Italy locked down; 213,013 confirmed infections were recorded along with 29,315 deaths. The United States locked down and became the world’s most Covid-19 infested nation with the highest rate of infections at over 1.5 million-plus over 73,000 Americans lost to the pandemic and counting. The United Kingdom locked down, over 194,994 of her citizens tested positive to the virus, while 29,427 Britons fell to the pandemic.
So far, as of May 7, 2020, the world is fast approaching four million confirmed cases with close to 250,000 dead.
From the numbers, it is apparent that with or without the Lockdown, there will continue to be a spike in the rate of infections and the dead.
Considering the fact that the Lockdown comes with a worse side effect on the people, the economy of nations and the world in general, surely, it makes sense to attack this virus without citizens incarceration in the guise of a Stay-at-home directive.
I am convinced that the aggressive manner with which Lagos fought and defeated Ebola under the robust leadership of Babatunde Fashola, then the State Governor, can be adopted, this time but, with an upgraded approach and measures.
So far, Babajide Sanwo-Olu continues to demonstrate a scientifically decent and targeted leadership in the anti-COVID-19 pandemic war across the nation.
Unfortunately, his measures at curbing the virus attack can only go so far as the damage the pandemic has inflicted on the State and its residents are beyond measure.
