A father in Ekiti State has reported his son to authorities for violating lockdown directive in Lagos State, travelling to Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The youngman, believed to be a student in one of the tertiary institutions in Lagos, was caught up by the COVID-19 outbreak, especially after the Federal Government’s lockdown order.
The father, a retired officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had warned against making the trip back home from the epicentre, knowing the high risk it posses.
However, the defiant young man, whose name is given simply as Babafemi shunned his dad and sojourned to his hometown.
In a viral video made available to KAFTANPost on Wednesday, a mini-drama ensued at the entry point to the capital as the ex-officer vowed not to accept his son back to his house.
According to him, it was too risky, particularly as he hadn’t undergone the mandatory 14-day self-isolation.
“I’m not comfortable with the test taken and I can’t stand the risk of COVID-19,” he cried out. “Despite the fact that he is my son, I gave him instruction not to travel and I already complained to security and medical personnel that if this boy should come, I won’t house him. He should get proper certification before I can admit him.”
As cruel as it appears, the retired FRSC employee could be averting an impending disaster in Ekiti.
The state’s third case, a 29-year-old pregnant mother followed the same path from Lagos without proper check and testing. She sadly died, becoming Ekiti State’s first casualty while the baby was survived through a caesarean section.
Babafemi’s dad cited the woman’s demise as a lesson. “I don’t want his case to be like that of the pregnant woman that threw Ekiti State into confusion two weeks ago,” he said.
” I’m a disciplined person. Some people would have this same situation and won’t do anything until it boomerangs and like Kano, many people would continue to die.”
The middleaged man further warned his son, in the presence of state officials, not to join him in his car home.
On his part, Femi said he had to find his way back home, using alternative routes. He revealed that he split the journey into two, stopping first at Abeokuta before ultimately landing in Ado Ekiti. According to him, he coughed out almost N12,000 for all his hassle.
With his seemingly uncompromising dad not ready to let him back in, Femi said: “Since I’m an indigene of this town, I will look for an alternative.”
Negligent officials
While Femi may just be exhibiting youthful exuberance, the sheer negligence of officials on the frontlines could be the difference between winning and succumbing further to the contagion.
From the clip, a government official, who acted as an intermediary displayed absolute ignorance to the current pandemic. He was heard making jest of the ex-officer who made sure he took the official back to the cleaners.
Despite the obvious dangers, the official even advised the father to allow his son back home because he had taken his body temperature which according to him wasn’t up to the stipulated reading.
The lesson for Nigeria
The altercation between Femi, his dad and the official mirrors the current Nigerian situation. A higher ratio of naive populace, a handful of trained personnel and even more minute persons ready to come out bold like Femi’s dad.
The country has so far recorded a little over 1,500 cases per the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). However, this would have been easily avoided had Nigerians heeded to lockdown directives, self-isolate and avoid interstate travels. Never mind the porous borders.
Ekiti has registered eight positive cases. However without the likes of the ex-FRSC officer, left alone with Femi’s type welcomed back home by lenient personnel, it would have been worse.
